Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About Dignity (Salem, OR) 200?-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2005)
Change to Win: SEIU takes action We are committed to continue to work with other unions and groups in Oregon to protect what we have won and to fight anti-worker ballot measures. We respect the AFL-CIO's national leadership, and we are committed to working with them toward common goals, despite our differences. On July 25, SEIU announced that we are leaving the AFL-CIO, a federation made up of labor unions, and taking a different path to rebuild America's declin ing labor movement. This decision was endorsed by Local 503's Board of Directors. This comes after a long struggle to get the AFL-CIO on track to build the strength of working people. We proposed new strategies to stop the decline in union membership in the U.S. Fifty years ago, one of every three American workers was in a union. Now, it's one in eight. That's a key reason why unions today are on the defensive and why we are less able to make progress for ourselves and our families. Unfortunately the AFL-CIO leadership was not prepared to make the changes needed. ii This is our opportunity to bring union benefits to more unorganized low-wage workers. That's where we used to be. Being a part of SEIU made a big difference in my life and I know it will for others, t0099 One reason we left is that Change to Win unions think organizing unorganized low-wage workers, like homecare workers used to be, should be the top priority. Other unions in the AFL-CIO didn't agree with this. uo6aio ‘W9|BS ZOZ on l!WJ9d aivd aovisod sn uoijbziub B jo }i|OjduoN Gus Cole Homecare worker, Astoria Judith Whitney, of Waldport, wrote this poem and presented it as testimony to the Homecare Commission on June 2,2005 Today I have a story to tell One that may not have been shared Had things been different or time rearranged No one would even have cared My health had been excellent And I thank my lucky star Cause luck was all I could afford My new income did not go far Reversal of fortune had left me broke And changed my life in a flash With no insurance and getting old You're likely to bum and crash At my age I was welcomed as a homecare provider And so was useful, I found Although money and perks were lean and few The union was gaining ground Two raises were won and workers comp Changed things forever, too And in April we were told "You're insured" All right SEIU The best part though is the end of my tale In June I suffered a stroke Two months after the insurance kicked in Now, was I a darned lucky bloke? The emergency room, the MRI's, the unltra sound, the pills All came crashing down on me... that weight that almost kills Not the pain, not the hypertension nor the vision loss, but The burden of finance we cannot meet to soothe or salve our ills I am so grateful for my outcome, all those who made it possible, take a bow ODS paid seventy five percent, I still had to pay six thou 6SL0-60SZ6 UO‘W9|BS « m »6 o ÌJ36 uo JIS 691-2U xog O d mas uoiun seaXoidwa oiiqnj uobgjQ fl3dO ‘£09 leooq ni3S eos ivxn
