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!"