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Board of Director Election
Candidatels] for BOARD OF DIRECTORS SEAT 9-Nursing Home
Judy Byers
Valerie K. Martinez
Salem, OR
Salem, OR
I want our nursing home members to have a voice on the 503 Board
of Directors and also to be able to communicate to 503 nursing home
members decisions that are made at the Board of Directors.
Qualifications: I am the Vice President and chief steward at Windsor Health
& Rehab.
I also want to be a part of the decision making process to give more
nursing home workers a voice on the job through their union and to build
political power. This is also a position where we can advocate for safe
working conditions and quality care for our residents.
Our relationship with our administrators has to be a partnership,
but we have to be treated with respect. If elected I will serve as your
representative and do my very best to be your eyes and ears, with your
help and support. I would appreciate your vote.
Union Experience: General Council, alert training, steward training,
grievance training.
Goals for SEIU: To help the union grow and become more productive.
Goals for sector: To become larger.
Biggest issues and how I'd resolve them: Health care, better wages, being
active & getting others involved.
Other info: I am a go getter, liking to get involved, meeting new people.
Candidatels] for BOARD OF DIRECTORS SEAT 11-Adult Foster Care
Patricia (Patty) Jones
Gary B. Lane
Dallas, OR
Eugene, OR
Qualifications: Since 1991 I have participated
in foster care meetings. Listening to providers
motivated me to improve foster care. I have served
adult foster care providers on the board of ACPO for
ten years, six years as President.
Qualifications: I have worked hard since the
formation of this bargaining unit. I have written
articles that we have negotiated for in bargaining.
I have served as a messenger for providers with
information about AFC bargaining. I have been on
several committees to insure that all providers are
well represented. I have marched and lobbied for
issues pertaining to AFC. I do not profess that I "know
it all" but will find out and work hard to represent you.
Union experience: I am a second generation union family. My father was
in the Teamsters and my husband is in the Carpenters'union.
Goals for SEIU 503: My Goals for my sector region are to get the word
out to providers in my area. I want them to understand all we have
accomplished and all that we hope to achieve in our next bargaining
session. I want to help them unite and hopefully meet periodically to
discuss issues for upcoming meetings.
Biggest issues and how to resolve it: I think the biggest issue our local
will face during my term is no health care. I will continue to serve on the
bargaining team and to continue to write the articles (or help write) that
address our need for full coverage health insurance.
Other information: I have been involved since the conception of this
unit. I served as Co-Chair to our bargaining team this past session. I have
helped organize members, attended outreach contact meeting and have
been a AFH provider since 1997, first as a relative provider for my mother,
then as a licensed SPD provider since 2000.
Union Experience: SEIU action has greatly
improved foster care provider's ability to affect real
change for ourselves and our residents.
Elected co-chair Contract Bargaining Team during the first and second
contract sessions. Attended both local and state meetings. Spoke
strongly, at the 2008 National Care Giver Conference, against the policy
of some states who pay zero service pay. Helped establish fair union
dues for providers. Attended the SEIU state conference. Spoke at the
national SEIU Executive Board celebrating Oregon providers helping to
grow SEIU to over two million members.
Why I seek Board of Directors office: I wish to represent the interests
of all providers to SEIU-503 and SEIU national organization.
My Goals: Establish a foster care provider web site that will enable
potential residents to easily locate a foster home that meets their needs.
Publish newsletter focused on helping foster care providers remain
informed about financial, educational, and practical solutions for
our business. Continue to pursue Medical Insurance and Liability
Insurance options for providers.
Current issues:
Secure Medical Insurance for Oregon providers.
Force states that refuse even token service pay, for their care
providers, to pay a living wage.
Encourage voluntary dues payment to ensure we keep our raises.
End discrimination against DD residents and providers:
DDS has a policy forcing DD residents to be evicted to create an "In
Crisis" condition. DDS allows evaluation of current care needs and
service pay to occur only for "In Crisis" clients. This practice needs to be
stopped.This is a clear discriminatory practice against only DD clients.
AMH (Addictions and Mental Health) and APD/SPDS/SDSD (Adults and
People with Disabilities) clients are not evicted before care needs and
associated service pay are evaluated. I will continue to apply political
pressure until we end this discrimination policy.