S E IU
2 Million
Strong—
and Growing
.’ J ,
J k j
SEIU kicked
off its 24th
International
Convention
last month
in San Juan,
Puerto Rico
with the
news that
membership
has surpassed
SEIU 503 convention delegation
two million—
more than doubling in size in the past dozen years.
For delegates from SEIU 503 and 3,500 colleagues
from locals large and small, the announcement set
the stage for passage of an ambitious Justice for All
platform--an organizing and political plan with the
goal of restoring balance in our society between
people who work and people with wealth.
"We want to win a better future for all working
people,"said Andy Stern, International President
of SEIU. "And it's going to take the active voice and
participation of our union members to bring Justice
for All to the millions more workers who are not yet
represented by a union. We've doubled our size
in 12 years. It took courage, persistence and a lot
of organizing for us to reach this milestone. And
I say today what I said 12 years ago: this is just
the beginning."
In his president's report, Stern revealed that
by implementing the divisions'plans, at its next
convention SEIU would become the largest union
representing private sector workers in North
American history and "for the first time be the
largest state, county and municipal workers union
in the Americas," meaning "purple will lead the
public sector."
The Justice for All plan commits members to
continue to build strength by uniting at least a half
million more not-yet-union workers in the core
industries of healthcare, property services and the
public sector over the next four years.
For a complete rundown of convention highlights,
log on to www.seiu2008.org/.
48 Win Union Scholarships
A total of 48 members and relatives have qualified for SEIU 503 scholarship awards for the 2008-2009 academic
year — 24 $500 awards for students entering college and 24 $750 grants for continuing students.
Active, laid-off or retired members, their spouses, domestic partners and children or grandchildren less than 25
years of age when they enter college are eligible for the scholarships as are dependents of deceased members.
They are awarded to undergraduates who can demonstrate both academic qualifications and financial need.
Applications for the 2009-10 academic year will be available in December on line at the Oregon Student
Assistance Commission website — www.getcollegefunds.org — or from any Oregon college financial aid office
and most Oregon high school counseling offices.
Here are this year's recipients, their SEIU 503 connection, college and anticipated major field of study:
Kate Allen, DHS, continuing at
Portland State, social sciences
Rachael Barrows, daughter ofThomas
Barrows, DAS, entering Pacific
Lutheran, education and history
Julie Blikstad, daughter o f Jennifer
Blikstad, Employment, entering
George Fox, nursing
Benjamin Bodenmiller, son o f
Donald Bodenmiller, ODFW, entering
Oregon State, computer science
Amanda Boice, daughter o f Linda
Boice, Employment, continuing at
Nevada-Reno, pre-med
Jerry Boice, son o f Linda Boice,
Employment, continuing at Nevada-
Reno; undecided
Bonny Chang, DHS, entering the U. of
Washington, social sciences
Amelia Clay, daughter of Nancy Clay,
DCBS, entering U. o f San Francisco,
social sciences and international
relations
Lindy Layton, daughter o f Craig
Clayton, ODOT, continuing at
OHSU, n ursing
Brandon Crawford, son o f Leonard
Crawford, WOU, entering Willamette
U., philosophy, languages
Deirdre Crowell, DHS, continuing
at Oregon Tech, mechanical
engineering, mathematics and
statistics
Kasimera Dehart, daughter of Stacy
Dehart, UO, entering Portland State,
psychology
Caitlin Easter, daughter o f Carol
Easter, DHS, entering U. o f Oregon,
English, biology
Kendra .George, daughter of Paul
George, DHS, entering Western
Oregon U., education
Wende Glimpse, daughter o f Richard
Glimpse, ODOT, continuing at
Emporia State, library science
Davida Grimes, daughter of John
Grimes, ODOT, entering Lewis &
Clark, English
Donna Harris, PSU, continuing
at Portland State, education,
community development
Amanda Hartley, daughter o f Julie
Hartley, ODOT, entering SW Oregon
CC, engineering
Julie Hauser, wife o f Allen Hauser,
PSU, continuing at Portland State,
education
Travis Heide, son o f Katherine
Heide, WOU, entering U. of Oregon,
business
Mideon Hoffman, son o f Susan
Freedman, Homecare, entering
Oregon State, business
Benjamin Hulburt, son o f Joseph
Hulburt, ODFW, entering Oregon
State, construction engineering,
business
Elizabeth Kean, daughter of Robert
Kean, Marion County, continuing at
George Fox, education
Alysaa Koida, daughter o f Kristin
Engelbretson, PSU, continuing at
U. o f Puget Sound, international
relations
Kayann Layton, daughter of Rene
Layton, Wallowa County, entering
Mt. Hood CC, dentistry
Eric Learning, son o f Gary Learning,
ODOT, continuing at Oregon Tech,
civil engineering
Azalea Lewis, daughter ofTerrena
Lewis, DHS, entering Lewis & Clark,
psychology
Melissa Linville, OSLP, continuing at
U. o f Oregon, special education
Kortney Loosli, daughter of Ryan
Loosli, DHS, Brigham Young, Music
LaDawn Lowe, Justice, continuing
at Portland State, human resources,
marketing
Ryan McGoldrick, son of Steve
McGoldrick, DHS, entering Gonzaga,
business, biology
Barbara Pearce, Homecare,
continuing at Lane CC, nursing,
public health
Catherine Pickett, daughter of
Steve Reinemer, City o f Beaverton,
continuing at U. o f Portland,
communication, business
Craig Pruitt, Education, continuing at
Corban Col., computer science
Dignity and Respect:
More than a Slogan
by Joe DiNicola, President
In 1861, when the United States was on the
brink of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln said,
"We are not enemies, but friends. We
must not be enemies. Though passion
may have strained it must not break our
bonds o f affection. The mystic chords of
memory, stretching from every battlefield
and patriot grave to every living heart and
hearthstone all over this broad land, will
yet swell the chorus o f the Union, when
again touched, as surely they will be, by
the better angels o f our nature."
At the 2008 SEiU International Convention
in Puerto Rico divergent views and hard
questions took center stage. What is the
meaning of member democracy? Should
individual SEIU affiliated locals (like SEIU
Local 503, OPEU) retain the same level of
independence as we have enjoyed historically?
Or should we give up some of our local control
and give SEIU International more authority
to set strategy and enter agreements at the
national level with employers like national
hospital and nursing home corporations?
When is it more efficient and effective to allow
centralized national control, and at what point
do members want to assert independence at
the local level?
4
July 2008
President Lincoln's advice still may ring true
and reminds everyone to reach higher to find
"better angels"as well. Within our own union
today, members say they feel as if there may
be growing divisions about how our Local
and the labor movement can move forward
and continue a united fight for a better future
for every worker.
SEIU Local 503, OPEU members in Oregon
face challenging questions. For example, is it
a good strategy to reduce the amount of dues
set aside for the strike and hardship fund and
use that money instead for other program
activities, like organizing more workers? Can
contract enforcement still be effective for
workers if we revise the way stewards and
organizers handle member representation
issues? Would using a new centralized "hotline"
to handle member contract questions
still protect contract rights? Have enough
members had an opportunity to weigh in on
those questions?
While there are likely serious differences of
opinion on these and many other topics, every
member must recognize that we can only be
successful when members debate and discuss
issues in an atmosphere of mutual respect
and concern for each other as co-workers and
Jennifer Pruitt, daughter o f Craig
Pruitt, Education, continuing at
Masters Col., pre-med
Jessica Pruitt, daughter o f Craig
Pruitt, Education, continuing at
Corban Col., international relations,
religion
Katelyn Rathelegurche, daughter
o f the late Baron Rathelegurche,
Linfield, business
Jeremy Rayman, son o f Kathy
Rayman, Jackson County, continuing
at Southern Oregon U„ business
lllaursa Rossiter, granddaughter of
Mary Rossiter, Homecare, entering
Art Inst o f Portland, fine arts
Jenny Seward, daughter o f John
Seward, Forestry, continuing at
Willamette U., international relations,
languages
Mitchell Shelton, son of Allen
Shelton, Wallowa County, entering
Lewis-Clark, medical technology,
biology
Melissa Sweet, daughter of Minoo
Sweet, DCBS, entering Lewis & Clark,
liberal arts, human resources
Krystal Toderick, daughter of Irene
Chavez, DHS, entering Willamette U.,
physical therapy, pre-med
Joseph VanDerNaald, son o f Wayne
VanDerNaald, ODFW, entering
Portland State, psychology, liberal
arts
Christopher Wagner, Forestry,
continuing at Eastern Oregon U.,
education
Adrienne Wise, daughter of Marjorie
Wise, UO, entering Reed Coll,
undecided
Jessie Bostelle Memorial
Scholarship
Nicolle Lavelle, daughter o f Daniel
Lavelle, UO, continuing at Portland
State, graphic art, fine arts
Toni Lowery Scholarship
Richie Day, son of Hanteng Day,
DHS, Dartmouth, economics,
international relations
equals.There can be no place in any union for
retaliation, discrimination, coercion or bullying.
It is never appropriate for union brothers and
sisters to attack each other, nor is it appropriate
to target any individual member or group of
members. No one should engage in a campaign
of personal destruction or intimidation over a
difference of opinion.
Dignity and respect are not just slogans for
bargaining contracts or political campaigns.
Members can't leave dignity and respect for
each other at the threshold of the union hall.
Dignity and respect are core union values.
When members abandon fair and respectful
debate and ignore the need to protect each
and every worker's dignity and rights, then
every union member is in jeopardy.
SEIU Local 503, OPEU members are justifiably
proud of what we have accomplished together.
Members in every corner of Oregon fought for
and won better wages and held a tough line to
defend quality, affordable health care. Members
made unprecedented gains at the ballot box.
Thousands of workers in new industries joined
SEIU Local 503, OPEU and our great union is
stronger as a result.
Success In the future means union members
everywhere must continue to stand up for each
other, each member must continue to look
out for every other member and make sure
the rights of every other member are always
protected. That is when we can say we are truly,
"Stronger Together."