It doesn't matter whether you are a member of a bargaining unit with 13 workers or 18,000 workers. Members make a difference in every community where we work and live. Every SEIU Local 503, OPEU member knows we are stronger when we stand together and fight for dignity and respect. Like we always say, "When you take one of us on, you take all of us on."

In this issue of President Joe's Journal, the State ups its offer for DAS and OUS members in contract negotiations, City of Umatilla Police Officers welcome back Officer Moose and SEIU Local 503, OPEU members of Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) settle a new three-year contract. Homecare providers also win a victory in the Oregon Legislature and celebrate another step toward the absolute right to workers' compensation coverage.

   In this issue: DAS and OUS Contracts: Count the Days On the Job in Umatilla COID Members Win 3.5% COLAs eNews Flash: Workers' Comp for Homecare

DAS and OUS Contracts: Count the Days.

After months of repeating the same "Contract Lite" insult of 1% cost-of-living raises, coupled with take-backs on health care, state managers made a new offer June 12. The new offer is an improvement, but it doesn't pass the smell test. Any cost of living raise (COLA) that doesn't at least equal the rate of inflation represents a pay cut. It's that simple. Over the last 10 years, DAS wages have declined. In fact, our COLAs have equaled only 72% of inflation during that period. With a rebound in the economy, it's time for members to make up ground, not fall farther behind.

Here's what DAS (Department of Administrative Services) and OUS (Oregon University System) managers put across the bargaining table last week:

Cost of Living Raises (COLAs): A 2% raise effective July 1, 2007 with a floor of $50, followed by another 2% raise October 1, 2008 with a floor of $50.

Health Insurance: Full paid insurance premiums until December 31, 2008. On January 1, 2009, the State agrees to pay up to an 11% increase in premium costs. Any additional increase is paid by members.

Part-time Health Insurance: The current subsidy for part-time workers will continue but part-timers will pay a pro rata share of increased premiums.

Living Wage Proposal: Management has no response to our living wage proposal other than the $50 COLA floor mentioned above. The State also proposes to freeze wages for many DAS Custodians by "red circling" them and dropping custodian pay from pay range 10 to pay range 7.

Selective Salary Increases: During the last several months, state managers listened to presentations from workers representing more than 200 different DAS job classifications. Members presented compelling testimony and demonstrated the cost to taxpayers resulting from high turnover and inability to recruit workers. They also presented data to show their job classifications are paid less than comparable positions in the private sector and surrounding states. Management agreed to only the following selectives: Governmental Auditor (Entry); Industrial Hygienists 1,2, 3 and 4; Medical Lab Technician 1 & 2; Medical Lab Technologist; Shipping Point Inspector 1 & 2; Social Service Specialist (Entry); Tax Auditor (Entry); Timber Auditor/Appraiser 1, 2 and 3. All other selective salary proposals were rejected without any meaningful discussion or response.

SEIU Local 503, OPEU members responded quickly to management's new proposal. June 14 marked a day of action in every part of Oregon and the message was clear: "It's time to show respect for the workers who make Oregon work."

In Salem, more than 400 workers rallied on the Capitol Mall and marched on DAS headquarters. Rolling noisily into the second floor office, members asked to meet directly with Lindsay Ball, DAS agency head. Mr. Ball would not make himself available, so workers delivered hand-written messages to him on beach balls, soccer balls, golf balls and balls of many descriptions. Members said, "It's time to get on the ball!"

Until the State of Oregon is willing to provide raises that equal inflation, maintain fully paid health care and address the need for a living wage for every state worker, we won't have a contract settlement. Our phone calls, worksite actions and petitions have moved the State from a 1% to a 2% proposal. Is that good enough? Most SEIU Local 503, OPEU members don't think so.

There are just nine days left in the DAS contract. Mark your calendar for June 29. That's the last workday under the current DAS collective bargaining agreement. June 29 is also our opportunity to tell management we stand united for a fair deal that respects the commitment and integrity we bring to the job every day.

Two years ago, DAS and OUS workers were "United for Fairness!" and we won a major victory in our contract settlement. Let’s send a reminder on June 29, "When you take one of us on, you take all of us on!"

On the Job in Umatilla

A few months ago, Officer Moose from the City of Umatilla Police was suspended. Officer Gary Knight, a member of the Umatilla Police bargaining team, suspected that his partner had been suspended to put pressure on him in contract negotiations. In response, SEIU Local 503, OPEU members offered their support and demanded re-instatement. Here's a recent update from Officer Moose sent in by Drucilla Califf, Homecare provider in Eastern Oregon.

"My friend Drucilla told me you'd like to know how I'm doing. I was reinstated to full duty April 1 and am so happy to be back on the job.

"My partner Gary Knight and I have been truly busy 'cleaning up the streets' here in Umatilla. The dollars and cents part has been over $20,000 in confiscated drugs and fines just since April 1. The real impact is getting the drugs and their people off the streets.

"I want to thank all of the brothers and sisters of SEIU Local 503, OPEU for their support and good wishes. Gary and I both appreciate you all."

Officer Moose, a German Shephard, is a highly trained and valuable asset in the war on drugs. Along with his fellow officers, he puts his life on the line every day for Umatilla residents.

Congratulations Officers Moose and Knight! Every member of SEIU Local 503, OPEU respects you and the work you do to make our communities safe.

COID Members Win 3.5% COLAs

"Free land in Oregon, in the richest grain, fruit and stock section in the world!" was Deschutes Irrigation & Power Company's aggressive sales campaign that offered land to Oregon settlers for the cost of irrigation. The flow of irrigation water to the first 40 acres of land began in 1904. In 1918, the Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID), a quasi-Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, took over operation of D.I.& P's canals. By 1924, the local population had grown to 2,000 people with an impressive 28,500 acres under irrigation.

Today, 13 SEIU Local 503, OPEU members who work at COID know more than most Oregonians that water makes a difference everywhere. It takes lots of rain and snow to keep Oregon productive and famous for our beautiful scenery, tasty fish, legendary trees and fine food. When you live east of the Cascade Mountains in Central Oregon, you can enjoy a sunnier climate and spectacular scenery but dramatically less rainfall. That's because the high Cascades stop western Oregon's ever-present winter rain and turn it instead into vast mountain reservoirs of snow. This snow melts during warmer months, swells the rivers and finally brings semi-arid land to life through irrigation canals.

Last week, SEIU Local 503, OPEU members from COID celebrated a new three-year contract with raises of 3.5% effective January 1 of each year. Once again, health care costs were a major stumbling block in negotiations. Although COID members agreed to switch to a higher-deductible health care plan, management agreed to share in the increased risk for out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles during the next three years.

SEIU Local 503, OPEU members with COID work as "ditch riders" and maintenance workers year round to help keep water flowing to about 45,000 acres within an 180,000-acre area. More than 700 miles of canals bring agricultural and industrial water to over 4,000 subscribers in the Terrebonne, Redmond, Bend, Alfalfa and Powell Butte areas. COID also provides water to the City of Redmond and numerous subdivisions. In Bend, many parks and schools receive water through the COID system.

For COID members the maintenance season begins in November and runs through March. The irrigation season can begin in April and end in October. The length of the season and the amount of water delivered depends on weather conditions and mountain snowpack. No new amounts of water are available because surface water in Central Oregon is a finite resource.

John Hargrove is COID local President and a bargaining team member. As one of the nine ditch riders, he regulates the current of COID water through head gates and diversions. John explains that gravity provides the power to bring irrigation to hay and other crops, as well as water for golf courses and other beneficial uses. He adds that managing irrigation is not like turning on a tap; every time one adjustment is made there are six other adjustments to make. John says water needs to be conserved and used well. COID members encourage the effective use of stream flow and water and say the effective use of any resource is the way to go. John thinks it's better to get ahead of the game and not have it pushed from the outside.

The most reliable way additional water will become available to COID’s subscribers is through conservation. Conservation is also a goal for members fighting to contain health care costs. It's up to every member to help keep health care costs under control and work to hold hospitals, drug companies and providers accountable for conserving our scarce health care dollars.

Hats off to everyone! Members at COID play a strong role in development of Central Oregon communities and COID members continue to work every day to help with conservation of all our natural resources. This contract victory reminds each SEIU Local 503, OPEU member that standing together, every worker can win.

eNews Flash

Workers Comp for Homecare: Last week, the Oregon Senate voted 23-6 to require workers' compensation insurance for SEIU Local 503, OPEU Homecare providers. This has been a long road for Homecare members. In every contract negotiation, including the current year, Homecare workers have had to bargain for the money to provide workers' comp. Without workers' comp, it isn't possible to get health insurance benefits. The new law will finally make workers' compensation coverage a right for Homecare, as it is for almost every other worker in Oregon. After the House and Senate confer and agree on the details, the bill goes to Governor Kulongoski for signature. More than 9,000 SEIU Local 503, OPEU Homecare members are looking forward to a great day in Oregon!