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Vol 4, Issue 3

Joe DiNicola, President SEIU Local 503, OPEU

Whether it's fighting for contract rights or governing our great union, it's up to members everywhere to keep union democracy and union member power strong. When you call legislators to let them know what works for workers, when you stand shoulder to shoulder with co-workers across the state for fair contracts or when you put your hat in the ring to run for elected union office, you can make all the difference. Without you, there is no union.

In this issue of President Joe's Journal, Portland Public Schools members win a huge contract victory and SEIU Local 503, OPEU members in work sites and communities all over Oregon get ready to elect new member officers including Executive Director, President, Vice President, Secretary Treasurer and Board of Directors. From May 31 to June 4, 2008, elected SEIU International delegates representing more than 2 million members gather in Puerto Rico to set a course for our union for the next four years. Only union members are eligible to run for these elected positions.

In this issue: Portland Public Schools Contract Victory  Nominations for Statewide Officers & Board of Directors Union Election Campaign Guidelines  eNews Flash: SEIU International Convention
Portland Public Schools Contract Victory
SEIU Local 503, OPEU Custodians and Food Service workers settled a three year contract with Portland Public Schools (PPS) on Tuesday, February 5. Negotiations had dragged on for eight months as the school district insisted on pay cuts as drastic as 32% for many Custodians. (These are the same Custodians who had been fired illegally by PPS several years ago. In an historic decision, the Oregon Supreme Court recently decided the Custodians must be restored to their jobs.) Under the new contract, there will be no pay cuts. Senior workers remain at current pay levels while new hires will begin work at lower rates of pay. The new hires will follow a step system that allows them to catch up with senior workers over time.

PPS Food Service workers won raises of 2.5% in each of the three years of the contract. The District will increase its contribution for health insurance as well. According to bargaining team members, the employer contribution should be enough to ensure that workers will not see any increase in out-of-pocket health insurance costs. Food Service workers won Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a paid holiday for the first time. PPS members won many other important victories including longevity pay, union rights and lead pay.

SEIU Local 503, OPEU Executive Director Leslie Frane said, “Portland Public Schools members rallied, leafleted, testified, lobbied, marched, chanted, advertised and organized. Workers sent letters, made phone calls, signed petitions, packed school board meetings, and posted lawn signs. Their tenacity in the face of injustice made the difference.” Members from bargaining units all across the state—DHS, Homecare, Oregon University System, Justice, Childcare, Revenue, DCBS, Employment, Nursing Homes and many more—stepped up to lend a hand. Elected officials and community supporters, parents, teachers and school kids joined the fight. Members send a special thanks to Portland Jobs with Justice for their tremendous support.

Congratulations to every PPS member. Your strength and determination in this tough fight is an inspiration to all workers. When the chips are down, members everywhere can stand together and hold the line. Great job everyone!

Nominations for Statewide Officers and Board of Directors
The SEIU Local 503, OPEU President, Vice President, Secretary Treasurer and Executive Director are elected Statewide Officers. The Immediate Past President also serves as a Statewide Officer; however, that position is not elected. Any member in good standing may run for statewide office and only members can hold office. Nominations opened for Statewide Officer positions on January 7, 2008 and will remain open until 5 PM on August 22, 2008 (the second day of General Council). In order to have your candidate statement published in the Statewide Officer Voters' Guide included in the 503 Voice, your nomination must be received by 5 PM on June 13, 2008.

The SEIU Local 503, OPEU Board of Directors serves as the elected governing body of our union between meetings of General Council. Board members are elected from every region and every employer group in the state. Again, any member in good standing may run for Director and represent his / her region or employment sector and only members can run. Nominations for our union Board of Directors opened January 7, 2008 and will remain open until 5 PM on February 22, 2008. The 2008 Election and General Council Guide is available on the web. Check it out.

Our union is member-run. Elected members make crucial decisions at every level and work to make sure co-workers know what they can do to make a difference. When members step up and get active, we all make progress in contract negotiations, at the legislature and in our communities. Contact any steward, officer or union organizer for a nomination form or to find out more about how you can get involved.

Union Election Campaign Guidelines
The upcoming nominations and election of SEIU Local 503, OPEU officers will be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of SEIU Local 503, OPEU, any applicable Local Constitution and Bylaws and the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) of 1959, as amended. Together with these governing documents, these guidelines provide notice to all candidates of the rights, privileges, and opportunities afforded them during their election campaigns. Officers covered by these rules are those set forth in Article III § 1 of the SEIU Local 503, OPEU Bylaws. Below is a reprint that describes some of the Guidelines.

Inspection of Membership Lists – Duly nominated candidates shall have the right, once within a thirty (30) day period prior to the election, to inspect (but not be provided with a copy of) a list containing the names and addresses of all Union members eligible to vote in that election for which the individual is a candidate. The list(s) will be available for inspection at the Union’s Salem, OR, headquarters during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Persons wishing to view such list(s) should contact Linda DeLauder at (503) 581-1505.

Distribution of Campaign Literature – The Union will honor and comply with all reasonable requests by duly nominated candidates to Rich Peppers or Linda DeLauder (see below) to distribute campaign literature to eligible voters at the candidate’s personal expense. All duly nominated candidates will receive equal privileges and opportunities to avail themselves of this service.

Use of Union or Employer Funds or Facilities - The use of union or employer funds for campaign purposes is restricted. Using union or employer funds to promote the candidacy of any person in a union officer election is prohibited. This prohibition applies to facilities, equipment (e.g., telephones, computers, copiers, fax machines, e-mail systems, etc.), supplies and cash as well as to campaigning on time paid for by either a union or employer and to the use of any newsletter for campaign purposes. The prohibition against the use of union or employer funds applies to any union and any employer, not just to SEIU Local 503, OPEU or to the employers with whom SEIU Local 503, OPEU has collective bargaining agreements. The use of union or employer facilities or funds, even if the amount is small, is a violation of federal law even if union officials or the employer do not know about or approve of the use.

Campaigning — Duly nominated candidates shall be allowed to publicize their candidacy in Union newspapers and/or by postings on Union bulletin boards at worksites so long as equal access and opportunity are afforded all other candidates. Duly nominated candidates may publicize their candidacy at Union meetings only if the sponsor of the meeting has contacted other candidates in advance and given them an opportunity to attend and speak as well.

Distribution of Literature at Union Meetings – Duly nominated candidates may distribute campaign literature at a union event, conference or meeting so long as the distribution does not interfere with the agenda of the conference such as by taking place inside the meeting room during actual meeting times. Campaign literature cannot be placed on the registration table of the conference and cannot be included in the conference materials. Candidates may access the meeting room to distribute literature on the meeting tables before the beginning of the meeting or during breaks or at times when the meeting is not in progress. This activity must be done outside of the meeting program and must not be disruptive or viewed as part of the meeting agenda.

Campaigning by Staff — Staff who are members of SEIU may campaign on behalf of candidates if their activities do not occur during regular working hours or during any hours in which they are assigned to, or working on, Union business of any kind. Current officers and union employees should be cautioned to take vacation time or a leave of absence if they are going to campaign during work hours, especially on election day.

Observers — Candidates shall be allowed to have observers at each polling place and at all phases of the counting and tallying of the ballots. If a mail ballot is used, candidates shall be permitted to have an observer present while ballots are prepared and mailed and when ballots are received, opened and counted.

Challenges — A challenge to a covered election must be filed within fifteen (15) days of publication of the election(s) results and must be filed in accord with Article III § 9 of the Bylaws of SEIU Local 503, OPEU.

Scope and Impact of Guidelines — These guidelines do not cover all election related situations or all possible election issues, and all candidates should acquaint themselves with the rules contained in the applicable Constitutions and Bylaws and Federal laws. If election officials become aware of any improper use of union or employer funds before the election occurs, they should take appropriate corrective action such as requiring a candidate to reimburse the union or employer. Since it is unfair to force winning candidates to undergo a rerun election without a substantial reason, the impact of any irregularity on the election results must be carefully considered before a decision is made to rerun an election.

Assistance — Members may direct any election questions to the Chair of the Elections Committee, or Rich Peppers, Assistant Executive Director (503-581-1505 x149), or Linda DeLauder, Human Resources Director (503-581-1505 x132).

The above guidelines were prepared by SEIU Local 503, OPEU January 2008. Reference: Conducting Local Union Officer Elections: A Guide for Election Officials, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Office of Labor-Management Standards, 2001. Copy on file at SEIU Local 503, OPEU Headquarters.

eNews Flash
SEIU International Convention: SEIU International holds an annual convention every four years. Elected Delegates from every local representing more than two million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico gather to set policies, goals and objectives and to determine the course of our union for the next four years. SEIU Local 503, OPEU will send 29 delegates to this year's convention in Puerto Rico from May 31 to June 4, 2008. Our Constitution & Bylaws designate four elected Statewide Officers as automatic delegates, and the Immediate Past President serves as a non-voting advisory delegate. Nominations are now open for the remaining 25 delegate positions. Signed nomination forms must be received at SEIU Local 503, OPEU headquarters by 5 PM Friday, February 15, 2008. You may nominate yourself or any other eligible member.

An on-site secret ballot election will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 from 11 AM to 1 PM at SEIU Local 503, OPEU Headquarters in Salem, 1730 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR. Note: This is a Board of Directors meeting. If you wish to vote, but are unable to be present, you can request an absentee ballot by 5 PM February 29, 2008. Absentee ballots will be mailed between February 20 and February 29, 2008. Please contact Verna Fletcher by phone, mail, or fax at SEIU Local 503, OPEU Headquarters if you wish to request an absentee ballot. Mail: PO Box 12159, Salem, OR 97309. Phone: 503-581-1505 Salem or 1-800-452-2146 outlying areas. Fax: 503-581-1664. Be sure to sign your ballot. Voted ballots must be received at Salem Headquarters no later than 5 PM Friday, March 7, 2008 to be counted. Good luck candidates!