Legislators Respond to Union Testimony
by Providing Workload Victory at DHS
Legislators have a growing understanding of the impact of
workload on the quality of services within DHS. For years, SEIU
members have been going to the Capitol and speaking with legislators about
how overwhelming workloads prevent them from providing the quality public
services that Oregonians need. Nowhere were the effects of workload more
pronounced than in the Department of Human Services where internal study
after study documented the crisis and its very real impact on clients. During
the legislative session DHS reported that within the Children and Families
Division alone, workload models demonstrated 38% understaffing in Child
Welfare and 50% understaffing in Self Sufficiency just to meet minimum
legal requirements.
With leaders such as Representative Carolyn Tomei, chair of the House
Human Services Committee, and Tina Kotek, co-chair of the Ways and
Means Subcommittee on Human Services, our members'voices were
finally heard in 2009. Despite the worst budget crisis Oregon has seen in
decades, the legislature understood the unprecedented demand DHS workers
face and approved 255 new positions to address overwhelming demand in
eligibility determinations and 186 new positions to help with expansion of
OHP and Healthy Kids within the Self Sufficiency office.
And thanks to heartfelt, effective testimony and
lobby visits by Child Welfare workers including
Barbara Casey and Mies Matz the legislature
added 130 new staff in order to begin to address
the chronic workload issues Child Welfare has
been facing for years.
Mies Matz
Casey, who is SEIU 503 statewide secretary
treasurer and also chairs CAPE, the union's political
arm, got a virtual front-row seat for watching how
political accountability can translate into front-line
results.
"DHS workers like myself are a leading force for quality services and better
living standards for all Oregon workers," Casey said. "By advocating strongly
for our clients in this time of unprecedented need—one in six Oregonians
are on food assistance and one in three use DHS services—SEIU 503 was
able to move legislators to allocate more workers to assist our families and
maintain those quality programs. As a DHS caseworker I felt that our legislators
understood the value of our members'work and the services we provide."
For detailed information on your legislators'votes and
updates on political activity of importance to SEIU 503
members, go to www.seiu503.org.