Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About Dignity (Salem, OR) 200?-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2009)
I Want to Add My Voice to Support Homecare Services! How do I do HP I am switching to $15/month for my CAPE contribution. This works out to less than $5 per week AND it is a critical investment in my future. If we want to win on issues like health care, wages, and services for our clients, please join me in increasing your contribution to CAPE. Bobbie Sotin, North Bend Simply fill out the enclosed CAPE form, tear it out, tri-fold it, and mail it in—no postage needed! CAPE contributions will continue to be collected through monthly payroll, so you never need to send in a check. Your new flat-rate contribution will replace the outdated "cents per hour" model. Thank you for doing your part in standing up for services! leader Profile: Alicia Gaovain-Bamey Alicia is a homecare worker from Huntington, a small town near Ontario in Eastern Oregon. She is a steward and leader who recently got active to defend homecare services. How have you seen activism grow and develop in Eastern Oregon in the last year? We went from 3 people attending Home Care Commission classes a year ago to 25 homecare attendees at our last class. We involve new members right from their initial CEP Orientation into Home Care Commission classes and our monthly meetings. I believe in involving other homecare workers irpmediately so they know they are a part of something much larger than themselves. What is your proudest Union memory? One of my proudest Union memories was delivering to Senator Jeff Merkley over 1,400 signatures on petitions that me and other Eastern Oregon homecare leaders collected. It really hit me hard when Sen. Merkley 4 actually met with us to take our petitions, listened to what we had to say, and let us know what we are doing is important and matters. How do you think our participation in the legislative activity makes a difference? Only because of our actions did we keep the Legislature's funding for most of our healthcare, to maintain our wages, and our paid time off. If we had not marched or spoken directly to our lawmakers, we would have stepped back in time and lost what we had fought so hard to earn. What advice do you have for other members looking to get active in our Union for the first time? Call your steward; call your organizer; call your phone Alicia Gauvain-Barney addresses members of the Ways and Means Committee about the importance of funding homecare services. tree captain. There are plenty of people around you willing to help you, and what you do makes a difference. Even baby steps make a difference. Find one you like and just do it. One person can't do all of it, but together we can do almost anything. I hope that other homecare workers will be inspired to step up.
