Looking Forward: Five-Year Strategic Plan
In November our Union unveiled its five-year strategic
plan, A Roadmap to a Fair Economy.
SEIU members from across Oregon came
together to create the strategic plan. At
regional meetings, over 200 members
came together to talk about what keeps
Over the next five years, SEIU 503 will have to
navigate a challenging
environment, and build
"The strategic plan lays out the time and place we
power at a time when
live in - where income inequality is at its highest,
the odds are stacked
corporations and the wealthy continue to succeed
against us. We have faced
unprecedented attacks on in this economy, and working families black, white
our right to join together
and brown, really struggle. This plan lays out how
in union—and we have
we can confront that reality going forward."
thrived through this
- Melissa Unger, SEIU 503 Executive Director
tumultuous period.
Yet the work continues.
"The strategic plan lays out the time and place we
live in - where income inequality is at its highest,
corporations and the wealthy continue to succeed inM
this economy, and working families, black, white and
brown, really struggle,"says SEIU Local 503 Executive
Director, Melissa Unger."This plan lays out how we can
confront that reality going forward."
"We have to be the union that is there for you when
you have a problem at work, and the union creating
structural changes to put working families first," Unger
said. "The commitment I see from SEIU members
everyday is what makes me think we're up to the task."
them up at night. Members participated
in focus groups and survey research,
and pulled together a two-day retreat
to think through all the information and
create priorities.
Our plan is broken down into three
key pieces:
1. Growing our member-run union
2. Providing quality public services
3.
Winning for all Oregonians
To read the full plan, visit
SEIU503.org/2025plan
Changing The Conversation:
Retirement For All
By Steven Demarest, SEIU 503 President
In 2019,1 watched the Oregon
Legislature cut the retirement benefits
of 140,000 working families who are
part of the Public Employee Pension
System (PERS). I watched as people
applauded a bill that would take
money out of the pockets of voters
- something that should be political
suicide and I was struck by how
much ground we've lost in this fight.
This November, members of SEIU 503 kicked off an endorsement process that will
determine how our Union engages in political campaigns in 2020. There's a lot
at stake. Decisions that impact SEIU 503 members - everything from the salary
pots that determine bur wages to our retirement and healthcare plans to policies
like paid family and medical leave - are made in the State legislature, local
governments and in Washington, D.C It's critical that we have a voice in those
rooms, and the ability to advocate for our interests.
It's time to take back the narrative. I believe the main reason our
pensions are under attack is that pensions are rare. Nationally, 22
percent of Americans have a pension (a defined benefit plan), and
that number shrinks to just 13 percent in the private sector. In fact,
retirement security, by any definition of the phrase, is rare. Only55
percent of American workers have any kind of retirement plan at work.
Most people no longer expect a secure retirement. People don't see
financial security as a right. Instead, they see our pensions as "overly
generous." Big corporations and anti-union politicians have done
an excellent job pitting us against each other. We need to flip the
script. Instead of asking "how come public employees get such good
benefits?"Oregonians should be asking "how come I don't get better
benefits?"
When politicians help SEIU members, we can reward them with our support.
When they don't, this process is how we hold them accountable.
Endorsements are driven by CAPE. The Citizens Action for Political Education
(CAPE) Fs SETU SOS's Political arm. lt's'ai member-run political action committee
funded by voluntary contributions. Members on the CAPE committee
will determine the 2020 endorsement process, and eventually make
recommendations on candidates in state and local elections.
Note: The endorsement process for Federal candidates, such as the endorsement
of a presidential candidate, is made by SEIU's International Executive Board, which
is made up of members from around the country. For more information on that
process, please visit Seiu2020.org or contact your organizer to get involved.
Our local endorsement process is run by a council of 52 members who are elected
by CAPE contributors. The current board was sworn in on November 17.
That's why we're launching a new campaign in 2020 called Retirement
For All. It's time to get people thinking about the ground we've lost and
Here's a preview of the endorsement process and timelines.
how much better things could be, instead of attacking the few places
•
Fall/Winter: The newly elected CAPE council will meet and begin the
discussion on the endorsement process.
•
Spring: Political candidates will fill out questionnaires, and CAPE council
members will interview candidates in person. Candidates will also participate
in regional interviews, so members of their communities will have the
opportunity to meet and talk to them.
•
Late-Spring: CAPE council will vote on endorsement recommendations.
Those recommendations will be finalized by SEIU 503's Board of Directors.
where working people are still holding on.
In the early stages of the campaign, we will work to educate the
public about retirement security and explain the root causes of its
disappearance from the American workforce. In the coming years we
will create policies that expand access to retirement plans, and fight to
win them on the ballot or in Salem.
Most importantly, we'll take a narrative that has been used to divide
Oregonians, and flip it on its head.
When the process is complete, SEIU 503 will communicate endorsements to
members so they are informed about where the candidates stand on issues that
impact our union.
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