Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The 503 voice. (Salem, OR) ????-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2016)
Hit the Streets for A Better Oregon Delegates vote on resolutions at the 2014 SEIU 503 General Council. 2016 General Council Set for Linn Expo Center All across the state, SEIU 503 members are hitting the streets to tell big corporations that it's time to pay their fair share. Working families in Oregon already pay a lot to support our state. But when large, out-of-state corporations like Walmart and Comcast do business in Oregon, they get away with paying the lowest corporate taxes in the country. Consequently, we're left with underfunded schools and public services. It doesn't have to be this way. Next November, we have the opportunity to pass a ballot measure to make sure that corporations that profit off of Oregonians do their part to support a thriving Oregon. The measure, referred to by activists as"A Better Oregon," would increase the corporate minimum tax for businesses whose Oregon sales exceed $25 million each year. Benjamin Gerritz, an SEIU 503 Board member and project coordinator at the Cascade AIDS Project, said the reception from his coworkers has been very encouraging. Benjamin Gerritz "My coworkers—including SEIU members and even managers—all completely understand how critical this issue is," Benjamin said. "We work on the front lines, and we see how a lack of access to education, healthcare and housing can be devastating for people." Benjamin has seen first-hand what decades of cuts can do. He noted how unfair it is that the average Oregonian is being asked to carry the burden while large corporations get a pass. Statistics about education and services in Oregon paint a gloomy picture. In recent years, we've laid off3,400 teachers. Oregon's class sizes are the third largest in the nation, and we have one of the shortest school years. More than 80 percent of working families who qualify for the state's Employment- Related Day Care program are unable to participate due to a lack of funding. That leaves working families to choose between their jobs and their kids. Our seniors are also affected. Since 2008, there has been a 29 percent increase in the number of seniors living in poverty. Human services staff and homecare workers have seen their caseloads grow larger and larger. That's one of the reasons Alice Redding, an SEIU 503 Board member and homecare worker from Rainier, is joining the fight. "It's my passion," Alice said. "If services are cut again, many of our clients would be helpless. That's why it's so important that we're out there gathering signatures for this important initiative and getting the word out." Alice Redding The A Better Oregon campaign is a rare opportunity to create a long-term solution to these problems, and to fund the schools and services we need to thrive. For more information and to find out how you can help, visit www.seiu503.org/0. The 2016 General Council, SEIU Local 503'sgoverning body, will convene at the Linn County Fair and Expo Center, August 4-6. Committee Chairs and members will arrive a day early for training session®“ ^ Members of all SEIU 503 sub-locals will elect delegates to General Council in the coming months during their sublocal elections. Even our smallest sub-local has at least one delegate. Delegates for larger locals are apportioned under an established formula. Statewide officers and current Board of Directors serve as delegates to General Council. See the Local Election Chart on pages 2-5 of this publication for details about your sub-local's elections. And check out our complete 2016 Election and General Council Guide posted at www.seiu503.org. New and updated Election and General Council information will be posted on our website as it becomes available. General Council Resolutions A General Council resolution is SEIU 503's version of a proposed law - and every member has the right to legislate. To be considered, a resolution must be submitted through official action of a sub-local, the Board of Directors, a Standing Committee or signed by 50 active members of the union. A proposed resolution should have a subject summarizing thé intent as concisely as possible. It should start with one dr more "Whereas" paragraphs, describing why something should be done. Changed or implemented, and conclude with "Be It Resolved"—the proposed action. A proposed resolution shall embrace one subject only and matters properly connected therewith. Resolution sponsorship also means that no satisfactory solution or expressed view can be found by any action other than General Council's. Resolutions may be submitted to the Resolutions Review Committee up to 90 days before General Council convenes to be considered timely. The Board may submit resolutions up to 30 days before General Council convenes. General Council is scheduled to convene on Thursday, August 4,2016. See SEIU 503 Bylaws, Article IX - The General Council for additional information, available on our website: % %
