process, but part of this is the hammerlock that the health care
industry has on many state legislators - and the partial influence
it has on some of the most pro-worker lawmakers.
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FIGHT CONTINUES...
House Speaker Karen Minnis (R SGresham) blocked much of the
affordable health care package. In her role as Speaker she used
her power to block affordable health care (and pro-worker
legislation). The threat of her opposition led to weaker bills
coming through the Senate.
In 2006, we have to do a better job working with our
legislative allies to reach consensus prior to the start of the 2007
session on the blueprint for affordable health care.
Representative Brad Witt steps in to help
whistle blower
Tracy Loutzenhiser, DAS Steward and Office Specialist II, was issued a
pre-dismissal letter for forwarding an internal email document to her
union. The forwarded document included information that the
State's legislative committee had been requesting from DAS on the
Data Center Consolidation.
SEIU presented the information to Brad Witt (D: St. Helens), who was
irritated that the information appeared to be available, but was not
being presented in a timely fashion to the legislators. The story
was picked up by TV news and made public. Representative Witt
interrupted his legislative schedule to get a full briefing from Tracy
on her discipline. He was able to put a hold on that budget.
A petition of support for Tracy was posted on the web and circulated
throughout our union. Over 400 union sisters and brothers signed
the petition in just three days! Tracy is now working at the Salem
Motor Pool and likes her new environment very much.
“Standing together with other
members of our union and our
friends in the legislature gave me
the strength to fight for my job
and win."
Tracy Loutzenhiser
DAS Office Specialist 2, Salem