Members take action in many different ways to help make SEIU Local 503, OPEU stronger and our state more fair for every Oregonian. We provide quality services wherever we work. We bargain contracts and stand together to improve standards for every working family. We advocate relentlessly for common-sense solutions to make Oregon a better place to live and a better place to raise our families.

    In this issue of President Joe's Journal, members invite new workers to join our union and member Lobby Days kick the 2007 Legislative session into high gear. Members also fight for access to quality health care at an affordable cost for every Oregonian. Finally, every member celebrates another historic victory for SEIU Local 503, OPEU's newest Childcare members.

New Member Orientation: Action at Work

    Every week, all over Oregon, Homecare member activists step up to help new members understand the benefits of our union contract. Phyllis Wills has been a Homecare worker for over 15 years. She's been active in our union since 2002. Recently, Phyllis gave an orientation to a group of new Homecare providers at the Hillsboro DHS office. Fifteen workers attended the orientation and by the time the meeting was over, 14 out of 15 had signed on as members of SEIU Local 503, OPEU.

    According to Phyllis, the overwhelming response from Hillsboro Homecare workers was not unusual. "Our new member union orientation gives people some sense of what they have a right to expect and where they can get help. We let workers know they are not alone. For me, I look at the orientation as a challenge: Can I explain things clearly enough that everyone wants to sign up as a union member?"

   Many Homecare workers are isolated and without a support network. Phyllis adds, "They often don't have anyone to talk to about their clients or about their contract rights. I always make myself available for follow-up meetings. We can get together for a cup of coffee and a one-to-one conversation. As long as workers respect privacy rights and keep names confidential, we can discuss their client's needs. We can talk about training opportunities and where to get help. If I don't have the answer, I can put them in touch with someone who does."

    Before Homecare workers joined SEIU Local 503, OPEU, minimum wage was the norm and no one had access to health care. With a third contract under negotiation, workers now earn $9.75 per hour with paid health benefits. Additional benefits include workers compensation coverage, paid mileage and training. Phyllis also explains how joining our union gives workers a voice. "When workers sign up, they can vote for leaders and help bargain contracts. They can participate in decisions that directly affect their lives and the lives of their clients."

    Phyllis also has great success signing up new CAPE (Citizen Action for Political Education) contributors. "I let new members know that the voluntary 2-cent or 4-cent per hour political contribution qualifies for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit at the end of the year. I tell them how it helps us elect people who will work for working families at the Legislature. New members understand that it doesn't cost them a dime and the rewards are tremendous."

    Nice work Phyllis and every member who steps up to give a new member orientation! Every member who works in State Government, Local Government, Oregon University System, Private Non-Profit, Nursing Homes, Childcare or Homecare can take a page from your book. The more members we have in our union, the more power we have at the bargaining table, at the Legislature and in our communities.

    Now is a good time to begin that one-on-one conversation with a co-worker. Ask them about their concerns and let them know how we can work together to make a difference. Share with them what SEIU Local 503, OPEU members have been able to accomplish.

    Ask someone you know to sign a membership form today. Do you need an extra membership form for yourself or a co-worker? Any organizer, officer or steward can help.

Members Take Action at the Legislature

    In 2007, SEIU Local 503, OPEU members are fighting at the Capitol in Salem to win big for working families. It's an ambitious agenda, and it's only possible because members stepped up and did what needed to be done during the election last November.

    Members changed the balance of power and sent a strong message to politicians in Salem. Members helped defeat bad ballot measures that would have damaged our ability to provide quality public services. For the first time in 16 years, Oregon has a pro-worker Speaker of the House and pro-worker committee chairs in both the Oregon House and Oregon Senate. This time around, we have a powerful opportunity to block anti-worker legislation and make sure our voices are heard.

   This Legislative session, SEIU Local 503, OPEU members will work to win our fight for:

• Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care
• Tax Fairness
• Workers' Rights and Protection from Out-Sourcing & Privatization
• Economic Justice Where We Live and Work
• Stable Funding for State Agency and Local Governments Services

    Member leaders elected by the 40,000 members of our union established these priorities. Some member legislative goals are immediate, while others are part of a long-term strategy to help members and Oregon win in the years ahead.

    Sign up for a Lobby Day with co-workers and talk to your elected representatives about the work you do and why it's important. Help make a difference and put Oregon back on the right track. Your voice matters.

Health Care for All: We Can Make It Happen!

    SEIU Local 503, OPEU members are serious about quality health care that’s affordable and accessible for every Oregonian. To make it happen, we must overcome the combined forces of a number of powerful interest groups at the Capitol. Here are seven specific steps Oregon can take now to lower costs and increase access to health care:

We can close tax loopholes for the hospital industry.

Many hospitals have abused their tax-exempt status to get low-interest loans and tax-exempt bonds. They use those resources to expand facilities that may or may not improve the quality or affordability of health care in our communities.

We can demand that hospitals be accountable to consumers.

We can ask them to prove how they spend our insurance premium and tax dollars to provide quality health care. Today, consumers in Oregon have very little voice about how the hospital industry spends our money.

We can stop unfair hospital industry pricing strategies.

Hospitals charge uninsured patients more than patients with insurance coverage. When those bills are written off, those inflated, uncollected costs are transferred back to consumers and taxpayers. A night in an Oregon hospital is more expensive than just about anywhere else in the nation.

We can make sure children in Oregon have access to medical care.

More than 110,000 Oregon kids lack health insurance. We must join with all Oregonians to make health insurance available to every child. This is an important step towards a long-term goal of quality health care for every working family.

We can help every adult in Oregon have access to health care.

One idea is to require employers that don't provide health care to pay into a fund to help provide health insurance for anyone who lacks coverage. Former Governor, Dr. John Kitzhaber says we need a change in federal laws to allow Oregon to pool all its health care funding and bargain effectively for quality care and coverage. This is the time for SEIU Local 503, OPEU members to take a seat at the table and join the discussion.

We can expand the Oregon Prescription Drug Pool to include small businesses.

Members joined with voters all over Oregon to help pass Measure 44 in November to allow individuals to join the state’s purchasing pool. Oregon can extend this right to small business owners who want to provide access to low-cost prescription drugs for their employees.

We can hold insurance companies accountable for skyrocketing rate increases.

In 2005, a study showed that the health insurance industry is extremely profitable in Oregon. Like other states, Oregon can and should require insurance companies to justify their rate increases.

    These are just some of the proposed ideas members say will help fix our broken health care system. It is unfair to continue to shift the endless rise in health care costs to working families while health industry lobbyists block any attempt to address out-of-control premiums and stand in the way of real solutions for an ever-increasing number of uninsured Oregonians.

    SEIU Local 503, OPEU members everywhere have said access to quality, affordable healthcare is a top priority. Join with co-workers now to help every family in Oregon win.

eNews Flash

Assistance for Union Members: Labor's Community Service Agency (LCSA) provides services for dislocated workers, as well as training and assistance. This organization also provides one-time emergency financial help for union members, their families and other Oregonians in need. If you know someone who could use help in an emergency, tell him or her to contact LCSA at 1125 SE Madison St, Portland or call (503) 231-4962 to apply for assistance. DAS Bargaining: Elected representatives from ODOT, Institutions, DHS and Specials coalitions will meet with DAS (Department of Administrative Services) managers for central table bargaining every Tuesday in February to negotiate the 2007-2009 contract for state workers. If it's Tuesday, plan to wear purple! You can help show management we all stand together for a "Quality Contract for Quality Services." Childcare Workers Win Full Collective Bargaining Rights: At 10:00 AM today, Governor Kulongoski will sign a new executive order to grant Child Care workers full collective bargaining rights, including binding arbitration if the parties do not reach agreement through negotiation. Congratulations SEIU Local 503, OPEU Child Care members! And thanks to everyone who stepped up to help win dignity and respect for the newest group of care providers in our union!