Welcome to our first edition of President Joe's Journal , a regular series of brief eNews updates about what's happening throughout our Union. Look for it on the first and third Thursday of every month.

I invite you to let me know what's up in your area or reply to me with any questions. Please feel free to print President Joe's Journal at home and pass it along to your friends and co-workers.

In this Issue: DAS/OUS Contracts Ratified, Pay Raises on the Way • OPB Workers Need Your Help! • Homecare Workers' Second Contract Sets New Milestones • DCBS Members Take Action — Oregon Consumers Win

DAS/OUS Contracts Ratified, Pay Raises on the Way

Our DAS bargaining team reached across the table one last time with state management on August 30 to sign the 2005-2007 contract. Our OUS bargaining team will meet with university system managers later this month to put their signatures on the contract. Two weeks ago, members ratified both agreements with a resounding YES—93% at DAS and 95% at OUS voted to approve.

DAS raises have begun showing up on paychecks already. OUS pay raises will start after contract signing. The pay freeze ended on July 1, and 2005 cost-of-living raises are retroactive to July 1 for all DAS and OUS members. Everyone will receive back-pay corrections once state and higher ed payroll systems are updated.

When you talk about our victory, tell your co-workers that our hard-working bargaining teams could not have done this alone. We promised we were United for Fairness and we all looked out for each other. We told our stories to newspapers and radio listeners all over the state. And of course, from Astoria to Lakeview, from Baker City to Brookings and everywhere in between, we wore purple, made phone calls to the Governor, stood together at rallies and rocked the Capitol in record numbers.

What's next? We did a great job to hold the line on health insurance premiums in this contract, but we all know the healthcare problem can’t be solved one contract at a time. Now it’s time to hold elected officials accountable in the Legislature and at the ballot box. We must let them know we expect to address the threat of ever-increasing premiums and reduced coverage without pay cuts for workers and their families.

Stay tuned, SEIU Local 503, OPEU will soon publish a scorecard that will help you see how your Legislators voted on important issues like affordable health care, a fair tax system and dignity and respect for workers.

Now that we have a new contract, let’s stay united, stay strong together and get ready to turn up the heat

OPB Workers Need Your Help

Oregon Public Broadcasting workers were once part of our State bargaining unit. The Legislature privatized OPB in 1995 and split off this group of SEIU members into a much smaller bargaining unit. It has been a struggle ever since for SEIU Local 503, OPEU members who work at OPB to hold the line against take backs in our contract talks.

In our last contract, workers agreed to a wage freeze and benefit cuts to help with OPB's budget crisis. At the same time, OPB increased compensation packages for their top executives.

Now OPB says that families must pay as much as $670 every month for health care. Where's the integrity in that? Here's what you can do to stand in solidarity with our SEIU 503 brothers and sisters at OPB:

Call Jack Galmiche at OPB: 503-244-9900 or 503-293-1987 and tell him to show some integrity to workers.

Homecare Workers' Second Contract Sets New Milestones

On August 3rd, our bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with the Homecare Commission that provides pay raises in each of the next two years and the addition of dental and vision coverage in April, 2006. We also increased the number of paid days off from one to four per year and created a much-needed training program for caregivers. Homecare member training will be provided on paid time, and training will be available for consumers as well.

From the beginning of this contract campaign, there were threats to end the health insurance and workers comp coverage that we struggled so hard to win in our first contract. There were threats to cut services our clients so desperately need. Homecare workers from every corner of our state took up the challenge--we wrote letters and postcards to legislators and the Governor, made phone calls, showed up at rallies and filled the Capitol with purple on Lobby Days to urge support for the Homecare program and for a fair contract for caregivers. Our efforts got a lot of attention, and in the end, services were funded. Our contract demonstrates that we were heard.

The contract takes effect when it has been ratified by Homecare local members. Ballots must be received at Salem HQ by 5:00 p.m., Friday, September 16. Ballots will be counted September 19-20. Homecare members' first pay raise ($.25 per hour effective July 1, 2005) will be added to the first paycheck after the ballots are counted and the contract signed.

Now that the contract campaign is coming to a close, we must build our union locally to make sure the contract is enforced. As Karen Thompson, Homecare local past-president, said, "None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something."

Are you interested in helping to keep the union strong? Please email me with your name, address and phone number and a member leader or a union staff member will contact you to discuss your interests.

DCBS Members Take Action--Oregon Consumers Win

Members working at Department of Consumer and Business Services joined together in early 2004 to advocate for reform in the insurance industry.

Their first project, Senate Bill 118 , was signed by the Governor at the end of the 2005 legislative session. The Director of DCBS wrote to our SEIU 503 members, "Your passion on this issue and your advocacy for consumers was a driving force behind this bill — thanks for continuing the push!"

SB 118 puts a brake on some of the wrong-headed practices the industry used to cancel and non-renew homeowners insurance policies and to set rates unfairly. Once again, SEIU Local 503, OPEU members used their power and all Oregonians will benefit.

DCBS includes the Insurance Commission, Workers Compensation Division and Oregon OSHA.

Congratulations DCBS members -- way to go!