Vol 2, Issue 4

By Joe DiNicola, President, SEIU Local 503, OPEU

Feb 16, 2006

SEIU Local 503, OPEU members are setting the record straight. When we stand together and speak with one voice, we can accomplish more than anyone can do alone.

In this issue of President Joe's Journal , ODOT members get respect, Milton-Freewater nursing home workers stand firm and DHS stewards score big for members everywhere. We also get ready to meet with legislators and challengers from all over Oregon. On March 11, we'll interview candidates in the hotly contested race for Governor at our Portland office.

In this Issue: ODOT Members Win: Spread the Word ° DHS Stewards Win Big for Everybody ° Sick of It in Milton-Freewater °We Are SEIU and We Vote  ° eNews Flash: SEIU Scholarships and Homecare Council

ODOT Members Win: Spread the Word

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) members stood together, fought back and won a dispute with management over reimbursements for tools. Our last contract raised the tool allowance $25 on June 30, 2005. On July 1, we negotiated a better deal in our new contract. Since the extra $25 only applied for one day, management tried to pretend that June 30 didn't exist and rejected all requests. ODOT workers said, "No dice. We have a deal and we expect to be paid."

ODOT members filed grievances and got ready to take the issue to arbitration. Workers sent postcards everywhere about the cheap shot on tools. Now it's settled and management will honor the contract. Terry Nelson, an ODOT steward at Salem Repair shop, stepped up and led the fight. According to Terry, this victory means more than just a $25 payment, "It comes down to fairness and respect. Besides, a deal is a deal!"

Under the settlement, anyone who purchased tools and turned in a receipt before July 1, 2005 will be reimbursed up to $25. Those who purchased tools before July 1, 2005 but didn't submit the receipt have until March 31, 2006 to submit a receipt. Everyone else has until March 8, 2006 to purchase tools and must submit the receipt before March 31, 2006.

Congratulations ODOT! When you take one of us on, you take all of us on.

DHS Stewards Win Big for Everybody

It's settled. When stewards travel to represent co-workers at investigatory and pre-dismissal meetings, the agency must pay for their travel time.

In March 2005, two DHS stewards traveled to Salem and to Cottage Grove to represent members. In both cases, stewards from Coos Bay were told to use personal or vacation time for travel; they could get regular pay only for the time actually spent at the hearing. This amounted to eight hours of vacation time for one steward and six for the other. We filed grievances and we won.

This is a huge victory, especially for workers in rural parts of the state. Members said the actions by DAS might be a union-busting tactic. Management's practice could leave members in more remote areas without help if stewards were forced to use all of their vacation when they stand up for co-workers.

DHS stewards won for workers all over the state. Stewards will get the respect they deserve. Cathy Shuh from DAS Labor Relations Unit issued a statement last week to all state agencies and ordered them to pay stewards for their travel time. From now on, state agencies must be consistent when they interpret Article 10, Section 12 of the DAS/SEIU contract. During work hours, stewards' travel time is paid time. DHS steward Elisha Stanley said, "I am proud to be part of this win for all stewards in 503. I never doubted that we were right."

Congratulations to everyone who stepped up to win this victory, and thanks again to all of the dedicated and hard-working stewards of SEIU Local 503, OPEU.

Sick of It in Milton-Freewater

In Milton-Freewater, an Evergreen Nursing Home administrator punished workers for absences with a point system. This policy hurts nursing home workers who use their hard-earned leave appropriately. For example, one member worked for Evergreen for a year. She called in sick with the flu in November and, for using three days leave, got a written warning!

Things got so bad that by January 30, nearly every Certified Nursing Aide and Certified Medication Aide had received either a verbal warning, a written warning or was on probation. SEIU Local 503, OPEU members at Evergreen decided enough was enough. They filed a grievance and cited several violations of the union contract. Every disciplined worker signed on to the grievance. The outcome? Evergreen agreed to remove the discipline.

Workers celebrate the victory but they know this fight isn’t over. Evergreen continues to threaten penalties for workers who use their sick leave. Evergreen steward Sheila Killeen says, "Tell everybody to stand together...we can make a change. It takes time, but we can do it united as one.”

Way to go Evergreen members! We stand with you.

We Are SEIU and We Vote

Are you satisfied with your wages and benefits? Do you worry about your health insurance? Are you concerned about a secure retirement for you and your family? Do you want quality public services, public schools and access to affordable health care for all Oregonians? Would you like to meet the people who will make decisions on all of these questions?

Mark your calendar for the SEIU Local 503, OPEU candidate interview coming soon to your area. Meetings are scheduled in every region of the state so you can speak directly to the folks who want to represent you in the Oregon House, Oregon Senate and in the Governor’s office. Every candidate is invited.

It looks like we have a hot contest for Governor. So far, there are three announced candidates in the Republican primary: Jason Atkinson, Kevin Mannix, and Ron Saxton. There are also three Democrats: Jim Hill, Ted Kulongoski and Pete Sorenson. All six candidates, and any others who step forward, will be invited to answer questions from SEIU members and make their pitch for your endorsement March 11 at a meeting in our Portland office. Seating at the Governor's interview is limited, so tell your steward or your organizer that you want to sign up today and reserve your seat.

Every candidate wants your vote and they are paying attention to you during the interview process. It's our best chance to tell them what matters to us. Together, we can hold them accountable.

Let's send a strong message, "We are SEIU and we know our votes make a difference in May and in November."

eNews Flash

SEIU Scholarships: SEIU Local 503, OPEU offers scholarships to members and eligible family. If you have been a member for one year, there is a Financial Aid Award of $500 per school year. Grant-in-Aid Awards of $750 per school year help current students remain enrolled. Part-time enrollment (6 credit hours) or graduate programs are also available. Applications are due by March 1, 2006 for the 2006-2007 school year. Homecare Council: The next quarterly Homecare Council meeting is March 4, 9 AM to 5 PM, at SEIU Local 503, OPEU headquarters in Salem. Check with your local officer, council member or organizer for information.