It may be the dog days of August but that isn't slowing SEIU Local 503, OPEU members down. Jackson County members in one of our largest local government bargaining units ratified a new contract with an 81% yes vote. State and University System members get ready to decide on contract ratification. And next week, 10,000 Homecare providers will get help from a mediator in contract negotiations.

In this issue of President Joe's Journal, the Oregon University System (OUS) bargaining team reached a tentative agreement on the 2007-2009 contract. OUS members won parity with State workers on a "living wage" proposal, increased vacation leave accrual and won 30 selective salary increases for specific job classes. Jackson County members celebrate and Homecare members get ready to make history again when they return to the bargaining table August 10.

OUS and DAS Contracts: Ready to Ratify!

More than 21,000 Department of Administrative Services (DAS) and Oregon University System (OUS) workers have good reason to celebrate. After members in DAS bargaining talks reached the tentative agreement reported previously, the OUS bargaining team worked until near midnight July 26 to finalize key economic and non-economic issues and reach a contract settlement for OUS. The good news for both DAS and OUS is that members have won the biggest cost of living (COLA) increases in over a decade with a 3% raise retroactive to July 1 and a 3.2% raise effective November 1, 2008. The COLAs include a "floor" or minimum raise of $80 and $85, respectively.

Members said that health care was a high priority and more good news is that State and University System members protected healthcare for another two years as management agreed to continue fully-paid premiums through December 31, 2008. In January 2009, management agreed to pay 100% of premium costs up to a 12% rate increase. If rates go up more than 12%, PEBB reserves will be used to make up the difference. Since PEBB reserves are currently in excess of $60 million, there is absolutely no chance of a shortfall or out-of-pocket premium cost for members during the term of this contract.

Members around the state stood strong to make sure no one was left behind. Part time workers maintained health insurance with no increased share of premium cost. A living wage proposal was also a key component of the final settlement. In 2008, the lowest steps of salary ranges 5 through 10 will be eliminated. This represents a fundamental change in the DAS and OUS compensation plans. The result is that no State or University System worker will be paid less than the gross income food stamp eligibility level for a family of three.

The list of victories in this contract settlement is long. The addition of three days bereavement leave for state workers brings DAS to parity with university system workers. Both DAS and OUS won additional vacation leave for long-term workers. Although members are disappointed about certain selectives, a record number of selective salary increases will apply to specific job classifications throughout both DAS and OUS along with increased shift differentials. There is much more that makes this 2007-2009 contract remarkable in what every member won to improve the lives of workers and our families in significant ways.

At a bargaining conference on July 28 at Willamette University in Salem, DAS and OUS bargaining delegates overwhelmingly voted to recommend ratification. Ballots are ready and in the mail this week to every member. If ratified, the contract becomes effective immediately and retroactive raises are expected to show up in October paychecks.

Take some time to talk with your friends and co-workers about the contract ratification vote. Let them know how much SEIU Local 503, OPEU members were able to accomplish this time around. If a co-worker is not a member, ask them to sign a membership form so they can vote on the contract. It's a perfect way to demonstrate our strength and let management know we are all in this together.

What Does It Take?

It takes the efforts of thousands of members all over Oregon to make our contract victories possible. Last November, members stepped up to defeat dangerous ballot measures designed to eliminate funds for state services. If those measures had passed, the state budget and every local government would have been squeezed. Adequate funding for our contracts would have been a lost cause.

Members also changed the balance of power in the Oregon legislature and elected pro-worker candidates who were ready to stand up to the drug companies, hospitals, insurance companies and other powerful interest groups. It isn't about Democrats or Republicans. It's about electing candidates who stand up on the issues that matter to working families.

When the legislative session opened in January, members were there in purple in record numbers to hold politicians accountable. Day after day, week after week, workers from the seven Higher Ed campuses, every state agency, retirees and care providers joined together for lobby days. We told legislators what it would take to continue providing the services Oregonians depend upon and what it would take to keep our state strong.

In every state office building, on every Higher Ed campus, in every ODOT shop, ODFW fish hatchery and every State Park or Forest, members knew what was at stake. On purple-up days, at unity breaks and in regional strategy meetings, members came together and let management know we weren't willing to lose ground on either healthcare or wages.

We have outstanding bargaining teams and outstanding staff support. We have the best researchers, articulate spokespersons and the toughest negotiators. But in the end, it isn't the bargaining team that wins a contract. It takes the commitment of members in every worksite and every community around the state to stand up for what's right. Congratulations again to everyone who stepped up to make a difference.

Jackson County Members Win

Jackson County members celebrated a tentative agreement for more than 600 SEIU Local 503, OPEU workers at midnight July 18. The new three-year contract includes a 3.5% cost of living raise (COLA) effective July 1, 2007 and 2% to 4.5% COLAs in the second and third years. The actual amounts for raises in 2008 and 2009 will be tied to the West Coast Consumer Price Index (CPI).

According to bargaining team member Buck Eichler, "The County had lost one third of its operating budget due to the loss of federal funds. We knew we were in a very difficult economic climate, but we just refused to back down."

On healthcare, members currently pay about $35 per month in premiums. Although it doesn't usually happen this way, the monthly premium amount will decrease slightly during the first year of the new contract. The bargaining team also agreed to give up the part-time health insurance plan because very few people were actually using it and the plan was difficult to administer.

Congratulations to every Jackson County member! In the face of long odds, you stood strong and held the line.

Homecare Bargaining Moves Ahead

Homecare members return to the bargaining table with the help of a mediator August 10 to continue contract negotiations for the second largest SEIU Local 503, OPEU bargaining unit. The bargaining team made significant progress in an all-night July 13 session, but many issues remain unresolved.

Homecare provider and bargaining team chair Joy'e Willman says, "We've made it clear that we won't go backwards in this contract. Hopefully with the help of a mediator, we can reach an agreement that improves the lives of both caregivers and clients."

Several years ago, the passage of Ballot Measure 99 established collective bargaining rights for Homecare workers and put care providers on the path to dignity and respect in the fight for control of their own professional and economic future. Now, in addition to the core economics of wages and healthcare, this third Homecare contract gives members an opportunity to win important gains on paid time off, payroll procedures, implementation of the Homecare registry and a host of other issues.

Every SEIU Local 503, OPEU member in every bargaining unit stands together with Homecare. Let's make history again!

eNews Flash

Legislative Victories: In mid-July, the Governor signed two historic pieces of legislation. Collective bargaining rights are now a reality for SEIU Local 503, OPEU Adult Foster Care providers in Oregon and Homecare workers have finally won the statutory right to workers' compensation coverage. Great job members, organizers and everyone who stepped up to make these victories possible! Welcome New Members: Nursing Home workers at the Prestige facility in Molalla have voted to join SEIU Local 503, OPEU. Our union now represents workers in twenty nursing homes in Oregon. Congratulations Prestige-Molalla and remember, "We're always stronger together!"