The 503 voice., October 01, 2008, Image 3

General Council Actions
Delegates to the 2008 SEIU 503
General Council...
Your Chance to Get Active:
Join an SEIU 503 Committee
The Staff Screening Committee
collects and reviews applications,
conducts interviews and
makes recommendations
to the Executive Director or
Department Supervisor.
... added a Board seat for a representative from
Adult Foster Care, the local's newest sector.
... created councils in the Nursing Home
and Private Non-Profit sectors, giving
workers the chance to network and focus on
sector-specific issues.
... authorized establishment of a resource center
to serve all members. The first phase of this
expansion — the Member Resource Center which
now operates in the care provider sector — is to
be in place by September 30,2009. A steering
committee will be formed to guide the project.
... committed to making SEIU 503 a leading force
for quality public services, culminating in a launch
by the next General Council in 2010 of up to three
quality service initiatives.
... voted to engage in a project to educate
Oregon lawmakers on the importance of workers'
rights to organize.
... resolved to protect our work from privatization
by changing the debate from public vs. private
to one of quality services and quality standards
for workers.
... pledged to continue organizing in Southern
and Southwestern "sister states" to reverse the
decline of union power nationally and thus
protect union rights in Oregon.
... increased efforts to watchdog the Oregon
Investment Council to protect state pensions and
to educate members about the risks associated
with private equity funds.
... backed a move to increase the medical
mileage reimbursement rate that the state pays
to homecare workers to $.06 below the federal
standard by fostering legislative support.
... reconfirmed support for efforts to hold
Wal-Mart accountable and participate in
campaigns against the company's abuses.
... created a Member Technology Committee
to recommend ways to improve our use of
technology.
... included Rules Committee chair in the duties
of the statewide vice president.
... made members of the Board of Directors
automatic delegates to the quadrennial
international union convention.
... added 25 cents a month to the amount of
member dues SEIU 503 rebates to sub-locals and
reduced the cap on sub-local reserves from three
years to two years worth of rebates.
... reduced the Strike and Job Protection Fund
set-aside from dues to 50 cents per member per
month and dedicated a higher proportion of
that fund to member strike benefits, in
recognition of the considerable reserves that
the fund now contains.
... upped meal reimbursement to $7.88 for
breakfast, $7.88 for lunch and $15.75 for dinner
plus a 20% gratuity.
ave you ever thought about serving on
an SEIU 503 committee or council? Since
September 2008, union committees are
no longer elected. Under new rules, the Local
503 President will make appointments for all
committees and one of the four councils. All
appointments are subject to ratification by the
Board of Directors.
H
The Civil and Human
Rights Committee promotes
and monitors the union's
commitment to equal
employment opportunity and
administers the Latino, the
Lavender and African/ American
caucuses to build a strong power base for pursuing
issues of cultural diversity.
The Member/Local Union Organizing Committee
designs and supports programs in which members
work on behalf of the union while on leave or
release from their current employment.
If you would like to serve -r all interest forms must
be in by 5:00 PM, December 1st. Jo apply online
or print an interest form, go to www.SEIU503.org
The Hardship Committee sets standards and
criteria for local Hardship Committees for
providing limited and short-term assistance
to members.
"Both the President and the Board will maintain
committee membership that respects the Union's
geographic diversity and the diversity of employer
groups within our membership," according to
Article IX of the SEIU 503 bylaws.
The Committee to Protect Injured Workers
organizes, educates and mobilizes around the
issues of workers' compensation, insurance,
safety and health.
There are 13 standing committees. Detailed
information about each is in Article II of our
Administrative Policies and Procedures.
The Pension and Thrift Committee includes
two members who help monitor the plan
implementation and pension funds investment of
the SEIU Local 503, OPEU staff retirement plan.
The Union Rules Committee promotes the
consistency of rules as set forth in the Union's
Constitution, Bylaws and Administrative Policies
and Procedures, making recommendations to the
Board on issues requiring clarification.
The Fight Contracting Out Committee is
charged with developing expertise in how to fight
privatization and acts as a rapid response team to
assist in fighting any contracting out efforts.
The Member Representation Committee
recommends Board action on matters concerning
negotiation and representation of employees,
election appeals and recall elections, allegations
of a breach of the union's duty of fair
representation, internal union disputes,
and contract ratification procedures.
The Union Finance Committee develops plans
for adequately financing the union, presents an
annual budget to the Board and regularly reviews
the fiscal operation of the union.
The Stewards' Committee coordinates steward
activities statewide. The committee plans a
biennial stewards' conference, disseminates a
quarterly newsletter, monitors steward training,
and assists with lists, selection and replacement
language, and development of councils and other
steward networks.
The Information Technology Committee,
established by the 2008 General Council, will
explore the use of technology to improve
communication within the union and make
recommendations to the Board on use of technology.
The Member Benefits Committee recommends
Board action on benefit programs, policy positions
on insurance programs, and maintenance,
betterment and promotion of workers'
compensation benefits.
There are five Special Councils that require
member participation:
The Women's Council plans conferences and
institutes information, research and lobbying
programs that address issues of particular interest
to the women of our union. It also serves as the
Dependent Care Committee, ensuring that quality
dependent care is available to members at major
SEIU 503 events. This committee is comprised
of member^ and a chairperson appointed by the
President and approved by the Board of Directors.
The other four Special Councils' were
established to further communications and
the principles of unionism within these groups.
If interested in serving on a council, contact your
sub-local president.
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Local Government Council
Higher Education Council
Nursing Homes Council
Private Non-Profit Council
There is currently one Ad-Hoc Committee.
The chair and members are appointed by the
President and approved by the Board.
The Operational Audit Committee is charged
with operational audits, reviews, and other
investigations, as the Board deems necessary
to assure that resources and assets are used
efficiently and effectively.
Out of the Mouths of Voters
Volunteer for an SEIU phone bank enough times
and you'll think you've heard it all. Then comes
the next call. Here are a few verbatim examples
from the robo-phone room in Portland during
the 2008 campaign.
Some voters unwilling to discuss politics just hang up.
Others offered the following explanations:
"I don't talk to people who call me."
There are novel reasons to support or oppose
SEIU 503 choices. Two examples:
"I'm a mailman and he sends too much mail. I always
vote for the one who sends out the least mail."
"No I don’t know anything about that, but I've
already made up my mind."
"I'll cross party lines not to vote for a cagefighter."
“We already gave, thank you."
Others respond in malapropisms worthy of a sit-com:
"There is no one here by that name — can I take a
message?
"I can't talk with my right ear."