This month, the 2007 Oregon legislative session heats up and contract talks continue for members in State, Higher Ed, Homecare, Nursing Home, Local Government and Private Non-Profit bargaining units. It's time for members to take action to support each other in our struggle to win better contracts, raise standards and provide quality services. That's how we build power in every workplace and every community. As Margaret Mead reminds us, "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

In this issue of President Joe's Journal, members rally at the Capitol to shine a spotlight on contracting out practices and the waste of tax dollars by private contractors. Baker County members celebrate a new five-year contract and SEIU Local 503, OPEU members join together with community partners to raise standards for workers in Portland. Finally, workers at OYA, OSH and EOTC/EOPC settle their Institutions Coalition contract and the Civil and Human Rights Committee stands up for everyone.

In this issue: BURTIE Awards at the Capitol Baker County: A Long History and a Big Victory JwJ Means Jobs with Justice eNews Flash: Institutions Coalition; Civil and Human Rights Committee

BURTIE Awards at the Capitol

SEIU Local 503, OPEU members present the First Annual Halliburton (BURTIE) Awards May 23 on the Capitol steps in Salem. The BURTIE ceremony will highlight the worst stories of waste, fraud and abuse by contractors in Oregon.

Members of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) and Oregon University System (OUS) bargaining units have made "responsible contracting out" a major focus in contract negotiations. While contracting out may sometimes be appropriate, there are too many examples of privatization where the public gets the bill for sub-standard work. Too often, contracting out costs more than having the work done in-house.

When state funds are wasted, critical public services are at risk. State and University System workers are the eyes and ears of the public. We identify obstacles and make the delivery of public services more effective and more efficient. We can't allow greedy contractors the opportunity to rip off the public. We can't allow them to create a mess and leave it behind for SEIU Local 503, OPEU members to clean up.

Join together with friends and co-workers at the Capitol at noon Wednesday, May 23. Legislators, community partners, supporters, retirees and health care activists will be there advocating for funding services for children and seniors instead of using tax dollars to line the pockets of bad contractors.

Join us to share your story about contracting out and send your nomination (on your own time) for a BURTIE award by May 18.

Baker County: A Long History and a Big Victory

Established September 22, 1862, the 3000 plus square miles of Baker County in northeastern Oregon have a history rich with gold. Baker County preserves the visible marks of the wagon wheels of the westward march of the historic Oregon Trail and prides itself on vast agricultural and mineral resources. Farming, ranching, logging and recreation are the modern economic engine for this part of Oregon’s I-84 corridor.

In 1868, the county seat was moved to Baker City, the seventeenth oldest city in Oregon. Today, you can visit a real live Oregon ghost town in Sumpter or you can ride one of the oldest narrow-gauge railroads in the country. Spectacular scenery, the world's deepest gorge, Hells Canyon, the Blue and Wallowa Mountains and history at every turn give limitless opportunities to explore Baker County anytime of the year.

When you get a chance to walk in the ruts left behind by the old Oregon Trail, try to remember the thousands of miles that you know lay behind the wagons. Think about the travelers who by now were barefoot as they faced the majestic Blue Mountains. Those determined pioneers must have thought, "We're nearly there. We're almost to the Eden at the end of the trail, just a few hundred miles left." The communities of Baker County have reason to be proud of their heritage and reason to be hopeful for a bright future. Whether you come to explore, ski, golf, fish, hike or just relax in the quiet, you’ll be glad to have spent time learning about and enjoying beautiful and friendly Baker County.

SEIU Local 503, OPEU represents more than 50 workers in Baker County. Members provide a wide range of services to county residents including Child Support Enforcement, Juvenile Justice, Treasurer, Commission for Children and Families, Health Department, Water Department, County Clerk and Roads Department.

On May 11, SEIU Local 503, OPEU members who work at Baker County voted to ratify a new five-year contract by a three-to-one margin. Workers and management agreed to 6% raises for 2007 and 2008, with raises between 2% and 5% (tied to the rate of inflation) in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Baker County members maintain fully-paid health insurance premiums in 2007, and agree to pay 5% of the premium beginning in 2008.

Bargaining team members Tom Rudolph, Ray Day and Dan Swan did a tremendous job during negotiations. Trudy Lowery, Cindy Carpenter and other members stepped up to investigate options for health insurance providers and helped to win the final settlement.

Ray Day, Juvenile Justice, said, "Our elected bargaining team members pulled together and fought hard to maintain full-paid health insurance. In the end, a majority of members were willing to settle with a guarantee of 95% employer-paid premiums. The wage increases we won made the compromise possible."

Baker County members also won victories on non-economic issues. Under the new contract, a Labor and Management Committee will be established to address member concerns and a County Commissioner will hear grievances involving discrimination or harassment.

With uncertainty about funding for local government services, this victory sets a high standard for city and county workers all over Oregon. Congratulations Baker County members on a great contract!

JwJ Means Jobs with Justice

SEIU Local 503, OPEU members work together with many community partners and organizations in our fight to improve the lives of working families and raise standards for Oregon workers. Jobs with Justice (JwJ), an organization of community activists and volunteers with local chapters all over the state, is one of our long-time allies.

The mission of JwJ is to stand with workers trying to organize and negotiate contracts. JwJ members advocate for legislative reforms at the local and national level to make it easier for workers to come together and form a union. JwJ members also work tirelessly to directly support workers and participate in contract campaigns and worker organizing efforts. When workers are on strike anywhere in Oregon, JwJ is there matching step for step on the picket line.

    Here are two current Portland area Jobs with Justice campaigns:

While McCall Oil engaged in a vicious union busting campaign, McCall workers stood strong against a barrage of unfair labor practices and won their first contract last year. After a 36-hour strike, workers won union protection along with healthcare benefits and improved wages. JwJ members mobilized the community, put pressure on management and supported workers during the strike.

Charlie Fingers, a McCall maintenance worker and member of the union bargaining team, said the victory was a result of "the unwavering support of [ILWU] Locals 8, 5, 4 and 40, the IBU, Jobs with Justice and others in the labor community."

At Providence Health Systems, the patient-to-staff ratio for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) can be as high as 59-to-1 on some shifts. Custodial staff is forced to use the same gloves in patient care areas that they use to clean the bathrooms.

Workers at Providence desperately need improvements in working conditions so they can provide quality care for patients. JwJ members have partnered with our sister local, SEIU Local 49 in Portland, to stand shoulder to shoulder with Providence workers in the drive to organize.

How has Providence responded to worker attempts to organize for better conditions? Management hired a union busting law firm. During a recent Workers Rights Board (WRB) Fair Election Oversight Committee hearing, workers said they were intimidated and forced to attend closed-door meetings with the boss. The employer also gave them misleading information about their right to form a union. Providence workers demand fair ground rules and a fair process to go forward and make collective bargaining a reality.

Jobs with Justice supports workers at McCall, Providence and in every Oregon community "because having a strong workforce that is free to organize not only benefits the union workers, but the community as a whole."

There's no better way to say it, "Way to go JwJ! We're with you!

eNews Flash

Institutions Coalition: State workers from Oregon Youth Authority (OYA), Oregon State Hospital (OSH) and Eastern Oregon Training Center / Eastern Oregon Psychiatric Center (EOTC/EOPC) reached agreement with management on the Institutions Coalition contract May 1 in Salem. With non-economic issues settled, workers from Institutions can focus all of their attention on core economics at central bargaining table. Along with DHS, Specials and ODOT, Institutions members know we need to fight for a fair wage increase, maintain our health benefits and make sure we win a living wage for every worker.

Civil and Human Rights Committee: The SEIU Local 503, OPEU Civil and Human Rights Committee is a resource for all union members and staff. Committee members are elected from all over Oregon and stand together for the idea that "equal rights are not special rights." Rose Kachadoorian, Department of Agriculture member and committee chair, says the Civil and Human Rights Committee welcomes support and participation from every SEIU member. Meetings are open to all members.