July 6, 2006

Members from every bargaining unit within SEIU Local 503, OPEU are elected by members to represent co-workers in contract negotiations. Every member who steps up to join worksite actions, wear purple, hand out flyers, put up balloons, write a letter to the editor or stand with co-workers at rallies and bargaining sessions says to management, “We deserve respect and we’re ready to fight for it.” Through our collective strength at the bargaining table, where we work and in our communities, we raise standards for all workers.

In this issue of President Joe’s Journal , members settle contracts at Lincoln City Rehabilitation Center, Cascade AIDS Project and Marion County. State and Oregon University System workers come together for a bargaining conference in Wilsonville on July 22, and elected Homecare Council members invite all long-term care members and child care workers to join the Council’s July 9 meeting. Members at both meetings will have an open microphone debate about the Governor’s race in November.

In this issue: • Pinnacle Nursing Home Victory • CAP Workers Win • Marion County Members Hold the Line • eNews Flash: DAS / OUS Bargaining Kick-off and Homecare Council Meets

Just six months ago, workers at Lincoln City Rehabilitation Center won the right to join our union. Workers fought hard and with the help of SEIU Local 503, OPEU members across the state, they showed management they would not give up. “We really become the family of our residents, and they rely on us,” Certified Medication Aide, Becca Thompson said in January. Now, Becca and other dedicated bargaining team members at this Lincoln City nursing home are celebrating this first contract victory with co-workers.

Lincoln City Rehab is owned by the Pinnacle Nursing Home chain, and Pinnacle mounted an intense anti-union fight. Community members stepped up to help get the word out: nursing home residents and workers alike are safer when work and care standards are improved. When Pinnacle workers are required to work unlimited extra shifts, burnout increases and risks for patient and worker safety are very high. Members said this had to change.

Under the new agreement, members won wage increases from 8% to 11% and protected health benefits with no increase in premiums. Over the objections of management, workers stood together and won “just cause” provisions for termination, along with grievance and arbitration language.

This was a major victory, since Pinnacle had demanded an almost unlimited right to discharge workers.

Pinnacle also agreed to recognize seniority for shift assignments, work schedules and days off. Seniority protections are also included for layoffs, unless the employer can clearly demonstrate that a more senior worker has significantly worse job performance. Union security language provides for dues deduction and fair share contributions. Finally, workers and patients will benefit from contract limits on extra work shift assignments

We all celebrate every contract victory members win. This win also helps Oregon families who rely on the care nursing home workers give to residents.

CAP Workers Win

On June 29, the Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) bargaining team reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract. The settlement provides 11% to 13% wage increases and fully-paid premiums (employee only) for medical coverage. Workers also won an additional holiday for New Year’s Eve, an increased sick leave accrual cap for part-time workers and four days of paid bereavement leave (per death) up to two times per year. Finally, newly hired employees can use accrued leave after 90 days of service.

Thirty SEIU Local 503, OPEU members work at CAP in Portland. Founded in 1983, CAP is the oldest and largest community-based provider of HIV services, housing, education and advocacy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. People afflicted with AIDS face huge emotional and financial burdens. Many lose their jobs and their housing, as well as any support from friends and family. Workers with CAP help people put their lives back together, locate secure housing and find essential medical care.

This time around, members bargained hard to change the way management handles wage increases. For the last six years, management had applied cost of living increases to particular employees and not to positions. In this contract, the base pay for positions will also increase. Members rejected merit system raises and won raises that will now apply to all workers.

Congratulations to Cascade AIDS Project members. When you take one of us on, you take all of us on.

Marion County Members Hold the Line

After the dusty and difficult walk west, early Oregon settlers called the Willamette Valley, “The Eden at the end of the Oregon Trail.” The fertile, rolling Willamette Valley landscape of modern day Marion County is home for over 300,000 Oregonians. Food processing, timber, manufacturing and education are important to the economy. Farmers in Marion County produce more agricultural income than any other county in Oregon, but the community’s main employment is in state and local government.

On September 3, 1849, the Oregon territorial legislature changed the name of Champoick, one of four original districts. The new name, Marion County, honored American Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion. The county seat is Salem and since 1852, Salem has also been Oregon’s capital city. Marion County Court presided over county government until 1963, when the court was abolished and replaced by a Board of Commissioners.

On June 21 of this year, after months of tough negotiations with County Commissioners, many worksite actions and community rallies, SEIU Local 503, OPEU members who work for Marion County reached agreement on a new contract. Negotiations stalled time and again with management claims of extreme budget constraints. In the end, the nearly 900 workers who keep Marion County working stood strong together and won raises of 2% in 2006 and 3% in 2007. The second raise is dependent upon the County receiving at least $1M from the common school fund. The outlook is good, but if that funding is not available, the second year raise will be 2.5%.

Once again, health insurance was a top priority at the bargaining table. Management tried to pass along increased health care costs to workers in the guise of “health savings accounts” (HSAs). The discussions about HSAs were not at the bargaining table, but at a joint labor-management committee that studies health benefits. Management began a series of worksite meetings to “explain the benefits” of HSAs, but it soon became clear that nearly a quarter of Marion County employees would be barred from participation in the HSA because they could not meet eligibility requirements. Ineligible workers would have been stuck with a deductible of $1100.

In the end, members stood firm and won a $925 per member per month employer premium contribution. This amount should be sufficient for health, dental and vision coverage with no out-of-pocket cost for employees. Employees will not be forced to enroll in an HSA plan. In the second year, the employer contribution increases to $980 per month. Full medical coverage will continue for part-time employees working at least half-time.

The agreement also improves contract language on a wide range of issues including leave usage, grievance and arbitration procedures, access to personnel records and job reclassification. Marion County also agreed to increase the number of members who will sit at the bargaining table using paid release time.

Way to go Marion County Employees Association members!

eNews Flash

DAS/OUS Bargaining Kick-off: Bargaining for the 2007-2009 contract kicks off for Department of Administrative Services (DAS) and Oregon University System (OUS) workers on July 22 at the Wilsonville Holiday Inn. Elected bargaining delegates who represent more than 21,000 DAS and OUS workers will come together to discuss goals and strategies for the next contract campaign. From 2:30 to 4:30 pm, members from every SEIU Local 503, OPEU bargaining unit are invited to join DAS / OUS members and discuss the endorsement process for the upcoming November election. Members will debate the pros and cons of supporting any of the candidates for Governor. Homecare Council Meets: The elected members of the Homecare Council represent more than 13,000 homecare workers. The Council will meet in Salem on Sunday morning, July 9. Addus, nursing home and child care workers are invited to join in a discussion, open to all members, starting at 1 pm to consider whether to endorse one or none of the candidates in the Governor’s race.