Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The 503 voice. (Salem, OR) ????-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2008)
Vice President President Serves as chief spokesperson for the union; Presides at all meetings of General Council, the Board of Directors and Executive Committee; Sets the Board of Directors meeting agenda and acts as Board administrator; Coordinates the activities of the Directors and Assistant Directors; Appoints Standing and Special Committee members subject to Board approval; Serves as ex-officio member of all Standing and Special Committees; Renders a report of his or her administration with recommendations, as he or she deems advisable, to General Council; Attends and represents our union at all appropriate national and regional meetings; Serves as delegate to the SEIU Convention; Represents SEIU Local 503, OPEU on the SEIU Oregon State Council; Chairs our union's Grievance Appeals Committee; Maintains an internal and external communications program throughout the union in conjunction with the Executive Director; and Represents SEIU Local 503, OPEU at the Legislature and in ballot measure campaigns in conjunction with the Executive Director and political staff. Performs the duties of the President in the President's absence; Replaces the President for the remainder of the term in the event of death, incapacity, resignation or removal; Serves as a member of the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee and other committees as designated in the Bylaws or as appointed by the President; and Serves as delegate to the SEIU Convention. Linda Burgin Tony Cracolice Sonya Reichwein Current Employer/Agency: Oregon Department of Education Current Employer/Agency: Bureau of Labor and Industry Current Employer/Agency: ODOT-Department of Motor Vehicle Services Years of Service: 24 years (Adult & Family Services, 2 years; Employment Department, 12years; Department of Education, 10 years) Sector/Region: 17 Local: 581 What are your qualifications for this office? I have integrity. I am hard working and I am a creative problem solver. I care about our members and I am committed to the vision of the Union. I have served the members in the following roles: I am currently serving as Statewide SEIU 503, OPEU Secretary/Treasurer (November 2004 - present) SEIU 503, OPEU Board of Directors and Executive Committee Member, & Finance Committee Chair (November 2004 - present) SEIU 503, OPEU Strategic Planning Committee (2007-08) Bargaining Team, Specials Coalition, 10 years President, Local 581 (2002-04) • Vice-President, Local 581 (2007-08) • Labor Management Committee, Local 581 (2002-04) • Mall Area Labor Leaders (MALL) Union experience not itemized above: • 2007 Member Political Action Conference (MPAC) • SEIU 503, OPEU Strategic Plan Retreats (2005 & 2007) • SEIU 503, OPEU Restructure Committee Member (2005-06) • 2007-09 District 2 CAPE Committee • General Council Delegate (2002,2004,2006,2008) • SEIU International Convention Delegate (2004,2008) • Selective Salary Presentations (2001,2003,2005) Why are you seeking this office? I am seeking the office of President because I firmly believe in the democratic power of the membership of SEIU 503, OPEU. I know I have the vision, skills, and experience needed to serve the members and to lead this Union into the future. What are your goals for SEIU Local 503, OPEU during your term of office? • Bargain strong contracts that include fair wages and health care, protect our pensions, and protect worker rights. • Build political power by electing family and worker friendly candidates. • Develop better channels of communication to build activism, solidarity, and strength. • Provide infrastructure and support to newly established locals, while also meeting the needs of long-established locals. • Encourage intelligent union growth that builds power for the membership. What is the biggest single issue the union will be facing during your term? We need to look at restructuring Oregon's tax system so that we can win funding for our contracts and the quality services we provide. Our families and our communities deserve no less! How would you propose to resolve it? We need to continue to fight for creative solutions to fund quality services. We need to insist on tax fairness! Corporations must pay their fair share. We need to restructure Oregon's tax system. Other information to support your candidacy: I have experience chairing the Board of Directors and acting as a spokesperson for Local 503. I have volunteered an average of 25 hours a week for the past 15 years. Length/Years of Service: 12 years Length/Years of Service: 10 years Region: 15 Local: 839 Sector/Region: 16 Local: 735 What are your qualifications for this office? My qualifications are my twelve years of SEIU membership, several of those as a steward in various offices of DOJ and at BOLI, as an officer of the DOJ local. I have always endeavored to help fellow members to achieve workplace dignity and fair compensation. Union experience not itemized above: I have served on CAPE, have been elected a Bargaining Delegate, and have worked collaboratively with other unions, such as IBEW, Woodworkers Local 246, and the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers. What are your qualifications for this office? As the current Vice President of our local, I believe I am qualified to serve a second term. I am familiar with the current issues which are facing our local. I have participated in the strategic vision planning for our union and therefore have insight into where we need to go during the next two years. Our members need us to focus on strong contracts, growing our local, and increasing member involvement at all levels of our union. Furthermore, I have learned a great deal in my first term, and am prepared to work hard these next two years to repair the division which has occurred within our board of directors. Why are you seeking this office? To restore integrity to the office of SEIU Local 503 president and to offer a more universal leadership to ALL members. Union experience not itemized above: • Current statewide chief steward, DMV Local 735 What are your goals for SEIU Local 503, OPEU during your term of office? To maintain fully funded health care for members, to achieve adequate compensation across the board, to foster active participation by ALL members, and to increase overall membership. • Bargaining Delegate 2003 - 2011 What is the biggest single issue the union will be facing during your term? While facing a bleak economy, we must struggle to keep health care affordable and available for our members. I believe the time is ripe for showing the world why organized labor is important by putting forward creative solutions that lead to wider, better coverage. How would you propose to resolve it? By calling on members, leadership, and the state government - at all levels - to come together as a task force and solve this problem. We should not be adversaries in assuring that everyone is healthy and safe. Other information to support your candidacy: It's time to elect someone different, someone who can represent everyone. In order to encourage greater activism and participation we need to bring back into the fold all those disaffected members who don't feel excited enough to send in a free ballot. I'm that someone. We need to reach across the entire political spectrum, to talk to everyone about solving problems. We need a change and we need it now. I'm honest and expect to work any hours required without expecting an extra nickel! Political Season continued from page 1 endorsed by Obama. And the worst is yet to come. Three especially destructive ballot measures are on the November ballot. One backed by Sizemore — which we have dubbed "payroll deception"— would make it illegal for publicly funded workers to use payroll deducted dues and voluntary contributions for political activity.This measure singles out public employees and publicly funded workers. This would eliminate our ability to deduct dues for any purpose if we even inadvertently violate the proscription against political activity. That makes it clear that its real target is the right of Oregon public employees to organize. A second Sizemore measure would raid state coffers by giving the wealthiest Oregonians a windfall in added income at public expense by allowing them • President DMV Local 4 years • Vice President DMV Local 2 years • General Council Delegate 2000 - 2008 • Steward, 2000 - present Why are you seeking this office? Working together, SEIU had great victories during the last two years. Our membership numbers have increased significantly, we have the political strength it takes to move a working family agenda, and we have won better working conditions for our members. I want to be part of the victories yet to come. I have learned a great deal in my first term as Vice President and want to be there for our new board of directors as they implement our new structure. What are your goals for SEIU Local 503, OPEU during your term of office? As Vice President, I would work to implement the strategic vision plan of our local. My primary goal within this plan is to increase member engagement at all levels. We need members to come forward and make this union their own. Our members have untapped skills and talents that could really help move our issues. We need member organizers not just bodies for the phone banks. What is the biggest single issue the union will be facing during your term? Two years ago, our biggest single issue was health care. It still is. Many of our members do not have full health care coverage, and every time we bargain a contract, members who do are forced to choose between full coverage and the cost of living increases we need to make ends meet. How would you propose to resolve it? It's all about politics. We have done great work in the primary and have worker friendly candidates ready to move our issues this fall. The first step to universal health care will be to elect these candidates and Barack Obama as our next president. to deduct 100% of their federal taxes on their state returns. That would cripple state services. A third measure, supported by Kevin Mannix, would divert billions of dollars from human services to finance and operate additional prisons by mandating lengthy sentences for property crimes. "Once we get the word out we are confident we can prevail," Lewis said. "But it will take more hard work and resources. I urge every member of SEIU 503 to support CAPE and to campaign as if your very livelihood depends on the result — because it does!"
