Vol 2, Issue 17

By Joe DiNicola, President, SEIU Local 503, OPEU

Sept 7, 2006

SEIU Local 503, OPEU members get together for many reasons. We gather to make decisions democratically, we gather for fellowship and to learn from co-workers and we gather to show unity. When we bargain a contract, lobby elected officials or stand up for each other at a rally, we demonstrate our unity and our power by standing strong together.

In this issue of President Joe's Journal , members from many locals gathered at the Dept of Motor and Vehicle Services in Salem to fight back against an insulting anti-public services and anti-worker ad campaign on TV and in newspapers. Homecare workers invited members from state and local governments, higher ed, private non-profits, nursing homes and childcare to join together at picnics all over Oregon. In Eugene, elected member delegates from every local, every bargaining unit and every region of Oregon gathered for three days at SEIU Local 503, OPEU General Council 2006 to debate and set direction for our great union for the next two years.

In this issue: • Members Gather with DMV Workers to Fight Lies • Homecare Gathers Members for Picnics • Elected Member Delegates Gather to Govern • eNews Flash: Office Worker Selectives

Members Gather with DMV Workers to Fight Lies

Members at Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) headquarters in Salem held a rally August 29 to denounce recent television, radio and newspaper attacks on public employees. DMV chief steward Cory McIntosh passionately defended the service that DMV members provide and that all Oregonians count on. He described the high approval ratings given by DMV customers and said, "The attack ads are a lie. In reality, an outstanding 88% of customers approve how Oregon DMV workers serve everyone in our state!"

The insulting attack ads are part of a national campaign against public services and workers. The good news is that even though the ads are extremely offensive, they are not particularly effective. While many may say "the government" has a bad name, most Oregonians think very highly of dedicated workers on the front lines. It's clear in every poll: citizens value the work we do and value the quality of the public services we provide.

Cory talked about the consequences of the campaign to try to take Oregon down the same road as Colorado. Ten years ago, Colorado decided to gut funding for public services and citizens of that state have suffered devastating consequences ever since. Members from DMV asked everyone to reach out and educate co-workers, friends, families and neighbors. We need every eligible Oregonian to register and vote in November. Our future and the future of our children is at stake.

During the rally, members from Revenue, Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Fish and Wildlife, Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Homecare showed up to stand with our DMV brothers and sisters. A childcare provider said it was important to stand up for public employees and public services. Lea Spencer, Revenue President and member of the DAS Central Table bargaining team, gave a rousing call to action. Lea encouraged each member to ask five more members to sign up for phone banks and to fill out bargaining surveys.

Great job DMV members. Thanks to everyone who gathered to show support. "When you take one of us on, you take all of us on!"

Homecare Gathers Members for Picnics

Most SEIU Local 503, OPEU represented workers go to work every day in an office and sit at a desk, walk a university campus, assist elderly and disabled patients in a care facility, provide food services in a cafeteria or join with crew members to maintain Oregon's highways, bridges, fisheries, forests and parks. We typically call those fixed locations “worksites.” We know we can count on co-workers and friends there for information and support on the job.

However, not every represented worker has a "worksite." Homecare workers take their skills, experience, training and compassion into private homes where they work alone and care for clients in every community in Oregon. The vital work of Homecare is demanding and calls for great patience and resourcefulness. For thousands of Oregonians and their families, our work is critical.

Without a "worksite," it's a challenge for Homecare members to get together and meet with co-workers. It's also not very often that Homecare workers have opportunties to get together with SEIU Local 503, OPEU members from other bargaining units. So, Homecare members came up with a creative solution this summer. They got busy and set up a series of picnics around the state in Albany, Coquille, Hermiston and McMinnville. Hundreds of SEIU members and their families came together for barbecues and potlucks. By all reports, the picnics were a huge success.

Members from state and higher education, local governments, nursing homes and private non-profits had a chance to celebrate and share their experiences and hopes for the future with Homecare workers. Childcare providers, the newest members of SEIU Local 503, OPEU, also joined the fun and said it inspired them to share stories with other workers. Caroline Mitchell, Homecare worker from Bandon and Homecare Local President, said, "We have to keep the doors open and take the time to bring everyone together. We’re already talking about holding more of these events next year.

Regardless of where we work, each member wants the same thing. Every member wants a fair contract with good wages and benefits. We all need support to win respect and dignity on the job. We each deserve the opportunity to build a better life for ourselves and for our families.

We know that we can't do this alone. We're all in this together.

Elected Member Delegates Gather to Govern

Nearly 400 elected SEIU Local 503, OPEU member delegates gathered at Lane Community College in Eugene for our SEIU Local 503, OPEU General Council 2006. For three days in late August, delegates discussed and debated resolutions submitted by members.

We celebrated victories and mapped out a course of action for the next two years. Members also decided how we will allocate funds to accomplish our goals and strategies to help build a strong future for members and help all working families.

There were a number of new faces and younger faces among the delegates. Small locals who have not participated in the past sent delegates this time around. It's clear we are growing a whole new generation of leaders from every local and every bargaining unit. Tera Martinez, Baker City Dept of Human Services delegate, said, "This was my first Council and everyone helped me through the process." Tera noted that 50% of the members in her office will retire within 5 years, and said, "Getting new people involved is extremely important."

General Council delegates recognized the danger for workers in the November election, particularly on the ballot measures front. Lots of delegates signed up for phone banks and neighborhood canvasses.

Members also focused on how important it is to organize unorganized workers. Crystal Schexnayder, a Childcare provider, explained in very moving terms why she and her co-workers need real collective bargaining rights. Members responded with a standing ovation that nearly took off the roof.

Delegates overwhelmingly approved a restructure resolution, designed by members from every part of Oregon, to improve representation and improve accountability. Star Holmberg, University of Oregon delegate and Restructure Committee member, said, "All of our groundwork and preparation really paid off. The committee traveled all over the state to educate members and get input. Every delegate was prepared and ready to go to work, and that made all the difference." Stay tuned. There will be many more details as we get ready to implement the new plan beginning in 2008.

Members talked about how well everything worked. Registration, lodging, materials production and distribution, meals, child care, transportation, facilities coordination, audio-visual, information services and a million other things were handled smoothly according to delegates.

Barbara Casey, DHS District 1 delegate from Portland, said the agenda was "inspired" for General Council 2006. "Everything flowed so well. It was upbeat and it was apparent that elected delegates were there to do important work for all members of our union."

ODOT delegate Mac McGinnis from Meacham said, "The important business of our members was handled well and the organization was great. The fact that we welcomed family members and provided mass transit shows everyone we walk our talk."

Our Member Planning Committee (members from ODOT, Addus, DMV, Revenue and OSU) deserves much credit for two very popular innovations this year: childcare and shuttle bus service to and from daily events. Sally Cumberworth, Homecare delegate from Cave Junction, said, "Staff members really made my daughter feel welcome and that made a big difference. We need to do everything we can to get young people involved in union experiences."

Many veteran delegates said General Council 2006 was "the best ever." Everyone showed up ready and willing to work. Member delegates left Eugene with well-deserved pride in themselves, pride in what we accomplished together and pride in our union. We are energized and ready for the big fights in front of us.

eNews Flash

Office Worker Selectives: Members of SEIU Local 503, OPEU's Women's Council have taken up the banner to get ready to win with an Office Workers' Selective and Living Wage Project when we negotiate our 2007–2009 DAS / OUS contract.

Kathleen Lamar, committee chair from Department of Justice, Oregon City, says, "Our goal is to win a selective salary increase for the core group of office worker classifications that cut across multiple state agencies and affect every higher ed campus. We're committed to a living wage increase for everyone at the lower end of the salary ranges."

You can help. Contact your organizer, any local Officer or Steward to sign on before September 15, 2006. Step up to support this ground-breaking project to raise salaries for thousands of talented and professional clerical workers.