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.
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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
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