SEIU Local 503, OPEU is the second largest labor union in Oregon with more than 40,000 represented workers in State and Local Government, Oregon University System, Private Non-Profit Agencies, Homecare, Nursing Homes, Childcare and Adult Foster Care. When we bring the collective strength of each and every member to the bargaining table, to the Capitol, where we work and where we live, we show we can come together and raise standards for all workers.

In this issue of President Joe's Journal, DAS (Department of Administrative Services) members reach a tentative agreement for workers who work in state agencies all over Oregon. Members won raises equal to inflation, maintained fully-paid health insurance and stood strong to win a living wage proposal to raise salaries for the lowest-paid workers in the DAS bargaining unit. While the "core economics" of the DAS settlement also will apply to the Oregon University System contract, members in Higher Ed still have a lot of work left to do. Both DAS and OUS members will gather at the next bargaining conference July 28 in Salem while Homecare providers continue to stand up for a fair contract when negotiations resume July 19.

In this issue: State Workers Celebrate Contract Victory! Higher Ed Contract: It Ain’t Over Yet eNews Flash: Beaverton Wins, Homecare Bargaining, Labor Day Picnic

State Workers Celebrate Contract Victory!

Last Friday, SEIU Local 503, OPEU members reached a tentative agreement with the State of Oregon for the 2007-2009 DAS / SEIU contract. The proposed settlement includes a 3% cost-of-living (COLA) raise retroactive to July 1, 2007 and a 3.2% COLA on November 1, 2008. This 6.2% raise spread over two years represents the largest COLA for state workers in over a decade.

The July 2007 COLA includes a "floor" or minimum raise of $80, while the 2008 COLA carries a minimum raise of $85. The floor means that every worker gets at least a $960 raise in 2007 and at least a $1,020 raise in 2008. The minimum raise is critical because when you go to the gas pump, they don't adjust the price per gallon based upon your job classification.

Members also won a huge victory when we protected health benefits for the next two years. The State will continue to pay the full cost of health care premiums through December 31, 2008. If premiums increase by more than 12% in 2009, the State agreed to access Public Employee Benefit Board (PEBB) reserves to pay for the excess. PEBB reserves are more than sufficient to cover even the most extreme cost increases. Every worker with health care won because an added plus in the new contract is that part-time workers will not pay any additional out-of-pocket costs for health insurance for the next two years.

What about a living wage for state workers? Beginning November 1, 2008 the lowest paid state worker will earn $1,847 per month. That's an increase of $436 per month. To put it another way, no state worker will earn less than the gross food stamp eligibility income level for a family of three. To accomplish this, the State agreed to eliminate many of the lowest steps of salary ranges 5 through 10 next year and boost pay for the workers at that level of the pay scale.

State workers also won the right to 24 hours (3 days) of bereavement leave when there is a death in the immediate family. Members no longer have to use sick or vacation leave in the event of such tragedy. University system workers already had this contract benefit and now all DAS workers have access to this important leave policy. Long-term employees (with 25 years of service) also won additional vacation leave of two hours per month or three days per year.

Members in more than 40 job classifications won selective salary increases. An additional 30 job classifications will move to higher salary ranges in "new and revised classes." While these victories do not raise all members in all job classifications to the salary levels they deserve, it is another big step forward.

There are many more victories to talk about in the DAS / SEIU Local 503, OPEU contract. Contact your stewards, organizer or any worksite leader if you have questions. Ask them for the most recent SEIU worksite flyer. It contains a handy chart and summary of contract highlights.

What's next? On July 28, bargaining delegates, officers, stewards, and activists gather for a bargaining conference at Willamette University in Salem to vote on whether to send this tentative agreement to the full membership with a "yes" recommendation. The bargaining conference is open to all members. Of course, the final decision to accept or reject the contract will be determined by a statewide ballot sent to every DAS member. If you are not currently a member, it's not too late to join. Contact any officer, steward or organizer to find out how to sign up. If you aren't a member, you don't get to vote.

The DAS settlement is a tremendous victory. On behalf of all members of SEIU Local 503, OPEU, I ask you to reach out and thank every member, every bargaining team member, every bargaining delegate, every organizer and every staff member who stepped up to make this victory possible. Your fight for respect and dignity for all workers and your commitment to leave no one behind made all the difference. Great job everybody!

Higher Ed Contract: It Ain’t Over Yet

The University System has said the tentative agreement for COLAs and health care in the DAS contract for state workers applies equally to Oregon University System (OUS) workers. That's because OUS workers demanded the right to bargain together with DAS workers over "core economics" in the 2007-2009 OUS contract. University System bargaining team chair Michael Ellis (PSU) and bargaining delegate Maggie Neel (OSU) were at the table standing up for OUS members during marathon all-night negotiations that finally concluded Friday, July 13 at 10:30 AM.

Under the proposed contract, members on each of the seven university system campuses and off-site locations will receive the same 6.2% COLA (over two years) along with the same $80 "floor" in 2007 and $85 "floor" in 2008 as DAS workers. The State will also continue to pay the full cost of health insurance premiums for OUS workers. Part-time OUS workers are also protected and will pay no additional costs for health insurance premiums.

But there's still a lot of work ahead for Higher Ed members. On the living wage proposal, the State committed "in concept" to apply the DAS provisions to the University System. Just like DAS workers, OUS members should not earn less than $1,847 per month (the gross food stamp eligibility income level for a family of three). However, the details on implementation of living wage provisions for Higher Ed workers are yet to be negotiated.

On issues ranging from vacation leave accrual to job protection, from upward mobility to selective salary increases, the OUS bargaining team and the Chancellor's office are still far apart. Higher Ed is back at the bargaining table July 18 and July 19 in the Library on the Western Oregon University campus in Independence, near Salem.

Call your campus HR managers and decision makers today and call the Chancellor. It's time for all Higher Ed members to stand up and demand a fair deal including parity with DAS workers. Get 'er done!

eNews Flash

Beaverton Wins: Congratulations City of Beaverton members! Yesterday Beaverton members reached a Tentative Agreement that calls for a 3% COLA retroactive to July 1 and holds down member costs for health care compared to where management started. Plan to come to Griffith Park near City Hall July 23 at 5 pm to get more information and show "Member Appreciation Union Unity." Ratification voting will be held Wednesday, July 25 in the Library at 12:15 pm and in Operations at 5:15 pm. You must be a member to vote. Ask any organizer, steward or officer how you can join. Homecare Bargaining: Determined Homecare members go back at the bargaining table on July 19. Help keep up the pressure on management and come to Headquarters for bargaining days. All 40,000 members of SEIU Local 503, OPEU stand with Homecare in our fight to raise standards for care providers who provide quality services for clients. Labor Day Picnic: Members are busy making plans for the annual Labor Day picnic in Oaks Park along the Willamette River in Portland. It's a family affair and for years has been a great day to celebrate workers and remember that we must stay together to stay strong. A good time is always on the menu along with hot dogs and burgers. Committee members would like to invite you to sign up today to help out while you have some fun. Please call Phyllis at 503-846-9459 to sign up to set up tables, help in the SEIU booth, greet visitors or any of the countless details that help keep this traditional Labor Day party going.