Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About Dignity (Salem, OR) 200?-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2008)
A message from iomecare President Mary Wood Elections for our statewide Homecare Council is completed and we have a fantastic group of leaders, with 29 total positions, we have IT brand new people. (Please refer to the new Council Roster on page 3.) Thanks to, each of you who participated in the election and to those of you who are taking a leadership role in our union. Homecare Retreat Leaders and staff met for two days in May to discuss, ask questions and plan our future as homecare.workers, both short term and long range. We asked questions like: • How can we be a force for quality services and quality jobs? • How can we increase member involvement in building and strengthening our union? • How can we support workers who want to form a union? • How can we build our political strength in order to protect services? The ideas flowed, the discussions were stimulating and everyone was excited about the energy and creativity that was generated. Out of < this retreat, the Council will adopt a strategic plan which will be featured in the next Dignity Magazine. Bargaining our 4th contract will begin in January, but there's an important role all members must play to prepare for bargaining. Your bargaining team will be elected at regional meetings this fall. Bargaining surveys are included in this issue. Please take a moment to share your issues, priorities and ideas about what you would like to see addressed at the bargaining table and return the bargaining survey. The results are used to develop our bargaining priorities. This survey gives you a voice in helping shape those priorities. On behalf of Oregon's homecare workforce, I am honored to serve as your president and I look forward to working together. Training - It Can beaM atterof life nr Death Shirley is a homecare worker in Prineville. Her story is a testimony to the importance of^ training. In early spring, she was coming oefrpf a post office, when she heard a little voice calling out "help me, help me, does someone know CPR". She answered the elderly woman calling for help and told her she would be right there. She ran into a riearby café and asked someone to call 911, possible cardiac arrest. She ran out tty the carand found a woman had lost consciousness (m, the backseat of-the ear). She had a pulse so sh^did not administer CPR. The woman's lips were bide and she was sweating profusely. A patron from the cafe ran out to assist with the woman. The woman regained consciousness and responded to questions. The paramedics came and transported her to the hospital. Shé and the patron went back info the Café to calm down. When the patron said to Shirley B don't know what we would have done if she would have needed CPR," Shirley replied, "You didn't need to worry, I've been trained in CPR."
