Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The 503 voice. (Salem, OR) ????-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2019)
SEIU 503, OPEU PO Box 12159, Salem, OR 97309-0159 ®<<»7 Q,«. 2020 Board of Directors Meeting Schedule SEIU 503 Board of Directors meetings are generally held on Saturdays at our Portland SEIU 503 office (subject to change) or in Salem. Salem locations for 2020 Board of Directors meetings have not yet been determined. All Board meetings are from 9am to 5pm unless otherwise noted. Saturday, January 11, Salem, Holiday Inn Saturday, March 14, Portland SEIU 503 Office Saturday, May 16, Salem (location TBD) Saturday, June 27, Portland SEIU 503 Office Friday, November 13, Outgoing Board Recognition and Incoming Board Installation Event (location TBD) Saturday, November 14 (location tbd) Wednesday, August 5, Lane Events Center (pre-General Council; time TBD) 2019 Yeai* In Review SEIU Members Win Best Contracts in a Decade On September 30, Thuy Huyen woke up early and saw a text message on her phone. After fighting with management for five months, and voting to authorize a strike, she and her coworkers at Portland State University had finally won a new contract? ? the hands of just a few individuals. All of the avenues to win back power, such as votingjoining a union or changing policy, are being blocked. "All this progress at our Union is coming at a time when our members are under attack/' said Melissa Unger, Executive "I remember jumping up and down in my bed," Thuy said. "I Director of SEIU 503. "Groups like the Freedom Foundation was so excited that I texted my mom. The extra money will (Opt Out Today) want the State Legislature to cut our benefits make a big difference, but it - and privatize public sector jobs, and was also this rush of excitement their strategy for getting there is "If not the Union, then who? Nobody is out knowing that we took on trying to take away our members' there advocating for working people in this something as powerful as the power." country, except for working people. It has to be state university system and actually won." Despite tactics like visiting upion us, together in union, that fight for a better life/ members at home, so called - Steve Demarest, Oregon Employment Department, SEIU 503 Statewide President This year, our Union settled "opt out" campaigns have been the best round of contracts unsuccessful. Our Union continues in over a decade, winning meaningful wage increases and to deliver strong contracts for our members that move Oregon other important changes for tens of thousands of families toward becoming a state with strong public services. in Oregon. On average, SEgSmembers at State agencies and "I know that the way forward is to be united," Thuy Huyen said. universities won wage increases between 10 and 15 percent, "One thing that's true for every SEIU member is that we're and protected or expanded benefits like healthcare, paid time stronger together.", off and inclement weather.Homecare workers broke ground . by creating a brand new retirement plan through Oregon Saves, and won a first-in-the-nation safety policy to protect peo pie wh en theyTeworking ih^dmeoheTs ho me? Other public employees, care providers, and non-profits around the state also settled new contracts. SEIU 503 is a democratic, member-run union of 72,000 people These victories were made possible by the hard work of who work as care providers or in public service jobs around the thousands of SEIU members who volunteered their time on state. In 2020, we will elect more than 700 leaders to a variety bargaining teams, showed up to events, or took actions online of positions, such as the Board of Directors, sub local officers, to lift up our Union. and statewide officers. The people in these roles will shape the "If not the Union, then who?" said Steve Demarest, an work of our Union over the next two years as we bargain strong employee of the Oregon Employment Department and contracts, represent workers, and grow. current statewide president of SEIU 503. "Nobody is out there Running for office and voting in union elections is the best way advocating for working people in this country, except for * working people. It has to be us, together in union, that fight for that you can shape the course of our Union. Your voice matters. a better life." Add it to the conversation. We Are 503! 2019 was not all roses for the labor movement. Across the country the power of working people is at an all-time low. Income inequality and corporate power has reached historic highs. Regular people - white, black and brown - are falling behind, as power and wealth are increasingly concentrated in See the election section inside for information about the election of officers in every group within our union. We encourage you to run for office and vote. For more information, visit SEIU503.org/WeAre503 INSIDE: Notice of Sublocai Nominations ant Elections DECEMBER 2019
