Published: September 19, 2022

Candidates were invited to submit a candidate statement (400-word-limit) and photograph to be published online by September 18, 2022. All candidate statement and photo submissions submitted by the deadline can be found below in alphabetical order. Please use the link that was emailed to you to cast your vote. If you did not receive an email about voting, contact Philip Shilts at shiltsp@seiu503.org.

 

At-Large

Renae Bracken, Oregon Department of Justice

“Osiyo/Greetings fellow SEIU503 Members.

I am Renae Bracken, a proud Cherokee Citizen and member of the Willamette Tsa-La-Gi At-Large Cherokee Community of Oregon. I am employed with the Oregon Department of Justice in the Child Advocacy Section located in Eugene, Oregon. I belong to Specials Coalition and sub-local 137, where I serve as our Vice President. I have been a Steward and a Chief Steward. I have served as a General Council delegate and Committee Co-Chair for the Bylaws Committee. I was also elected as a Bargaining Delegate and look forward to serving our represented workers in the 2023 Bargaining Session. Most recently, I finished my rotation as a Contract Specialist helping to build up and support members in their leadership growth and development, while also working with agencies to build stronger, healthier relationships between labor and management.

I am running for a position at the  Central Table because I want to continue to serve the best interests of our members. I want to serve all our members and not just those from my agency or coalition. While I worked as a Contract Specialist, I learned so much more about the issues facing our workers and what their priorities are. Additionally, I built relationships with our members and members of management throughout our state agencies.

I value the immense diversity of our membership body, not just in race and ethnicity, but also in age, gender, ability, education, family status and every single other aspect of our lives that enriches our perspective on the world we share. I understand the issues facing all of us, such as wages that haven’t kept up with inflation and retention and the fears about upcoming rent increases that will undermine our wages even further. I understand the need for stronger language around Remote Work and Work Schedules to give our workers a better work life balance. I understand many of the issues facing our workers across the state, such as our limited duration and seasonal workers needing stronger language around their benefits. I understand that professional development opportunities need to be real opportunities that will help our members climb the salary scale rather than remain stagnant in a position. I understand that we need to address the toxic work environments that we have been subjected to for far too long. We need to address issues that impact retention so that we can keep good workers”

Ibrahim Coulibaly, Bureau of Labor and Industries

“My name is Ibrahim Coulibaly, I’m asking for your vote for Central table bargaining delegate as member At-Large.

I am the President of SEIU Sub-local 839, Bureau of Labor and Industries. I am a Senior Civil Rights Investigator, I am also the statewide Chairperson for SEIU 503 CAPE Council. Currently I am the Chair of the City of Eugene Human Rights Commission. I am a former Contract Specialist of SEIU 503 / State of Oregon for the Oregon State Hospital and Oregon Youth Authority. I am a first-generation immigrant from Africa, former business owner, and proud single dad of a 7 year old girl and a 12 year old boy.

Public Services, in some shapes or forms, continue during challenging times. We continue to provide to Oregonians the services they deserve. Being public servants is our calling, and we deserve recognition through compensation, benefits, and job security.

Uncertain times are ahead of us!

The polls show that Oregon is 50% likely to have an anti-labor Governor in 2023. While our members are canvassing, phone banking, and post-carding to support candidates who are labor friendly, we need a strong bargaining team ready to fight for our pay, benefits, discrimination, and for a bully-free workplace.

For Public Sector workers, 2022 is a bargaining year. We can anticipate long days and nights of stressful negotiations. In addition to bargaining mandatory subjects (wages, benefits and working conditions) of our contract, we owe it to our members who belong to one or multiple protected classes, to bargain contract language around racism, bullying, sexism, bigotry, misogyny, etc. Our diversity Is our strength. Equity and inclusion in bargaining gives us a tool to create a more welcoming workplace for all of our members.

At my job, I investigate hundreds of workplace discrimination, intimidation, micro-aggression, and retaliation cases. I would like to bring my experience to the bargaining table. The central bargaining table will give me the opportunity to contribute to bargaining contract language around these issues.

I respectfully ask for your vote.”

Jennifer Li, Oregon Health Authority

“As a first time union member when I started working for the Oregon Health Authority six years ago, it has been a great experience serving as chair of my sublocal and being re-elected this term.  I have also served as a member organizer and am currently a steward.  I am proud to be a member of SEIU, and to stand up for my fellow colleagues and members.SEIU is a strong union.  We are a strong union because we have strong voices.  We are a strong union because we get involved.  We are a strong union because we have members who care about their coworkers, where they work, and how they live.  And I want to do all those things.I want to stand up for the safety and welfare of our members – to ensure members can go to their workplaces and know that their health and wellbeing will be taken care of, that members can work from home and that required duties at a worksite are shared equally among teams, and that members experiencing trauma in the workplace have immediate and long-term support.I want to support equitable workplaces and policies – to guarantee workplace safety standards, that more transparency in agency decision making, and that policies are interpreted and applied equally and equitably across worksites.I want to advocate for our members’ hard work and dedication to be valued in tangible ways – with competitive wages, market-equivalent cost of living adjustments, and continuing and improved benefits.Most of all, I want to encourage all of us to use our voices, so that together, we can work toward positive, sustainable, and worthwhile changes that benefit all of us, our families, and our communities.”
Mikaela Polk, Department of Consumer and Business Services
“Hi, my name is Mikaela Polk and I am running to be an at-large Central Bargaining Delegate. As a transgender woman, I have had to fight hard to be myself; whether it be fighting insurance companies that have consistently refused transition related medical care, or fighting bigotry against myself and other transgender people. I have persisted, which has allowed me to blossom into the woman that I am today. I work at the Department of Consumer and Business Services as a Field Investigator. I am a sub-local Vice President, and Steward. My involvement in SEIU leadership spans the past ten years. My experience has prepared me to fight for our members to win big in the upcoming contract negotiations. I am prepared fight for the best contract possible, including fair COLAS that actually reflect the recent jumps to inflation, while keeping our medical copays down. It would be my honor to serve at the Central Bargaining Table. Please vote for Mikaela Polk!”

Human Services Coalition

Austin Folnagy, Employment Department

“In 2016, I was elected to central table for the first time. I was the first millennial to ever get elected chair to central table, and developed my skills of statewide bargaining for our members. Now with ten years of bargaining and labor organizing experience, I ask for your vote for Human Service Coalition Cochair.

Outside of bargaining, in the last ten years, I have been elected to two separate community colleges boards. In those roles, I developed and managed quarter billion dollar budgets. And as a elected representative/board member served as a advocate for labor unions in those institutions. Additionally, I pushed and lobbied elected representatives up in Salem to fund education programs. These skills allow me to work with large fiscal numbers, develop a successful community supported bargaining campaign, and push elected representatives to fund our salaries/benefits.

I bring a lot of skills and central table experience to the bargaining table that will benefit our members. This is even more of a asset with many of our senior central table bargaining delegates from other coalitions who won’t be there. My senior experience at central table and leadership skills will help empower a new and more diverse central bargaining table this cycle.

I will take the charge that our union’s General Council gave us to develop social and climate justice bargaining language. I will fight for stronger protections for our coalitions limited duration staff. As the coalition who will be processing the claims of new Paid Family Leave program for Oregon, we need to have robust language around family leave and work-life balance for our own workers. Human service agencies should treat its workers with humanity. I will look for opportunities in the state’s budget to advocate for the highest COLAs and wage increases possible for our members to counter inflation. Find ways to lower our medical and other benefit costs, while pushing for our employee contributions for paid family leave be covered. I will push to pass language that promotes workplace dynamics that would make state employment a world class employer to benefit current members and attract the next generation of workers. Codifying and expanding flexible work schedule, work from home, and worker support systems can achieve that.

Again I ask for your vote and together we can win for our members.

Vote Austin Folnagy..Go from Good to Great.”

Rachelle Mullins

“My name is Rachelle and I am running to represent the Human Services coalition as a Central Table delegate.

My priorities as a Central Table delegate will be to advance the agenda of all ODHS, OHA and OED workers and drafting strong contract language that can be easily understood by each member, regardless of union experience, and that can be effectively enforced by stewards.”

 

Institutions

Joseph Dyer, Oregon Health Authority – Pendleton Cottage

“Hello my fellow union members. I am just an individual that wants to see everyone treated equally. I can negotiate with the best of them and have no ties to any agenda other than getting us fair wages and safe work environment for all to thrive.”

Jesse Rodriguez, Oregon State Hospital – Salem
“I have been an employee of Oregon State Hospital for 17 years.  I’ve been actively involved in the union for several years as a steward, sub local Vice President and President. I have previous bargaining experience as a delegate at Institutions Coalition’s bargaining. I believe that representing my coalition at central table will be a great learning experience and help me continue to develop as a union leader. I look forward to working with all the delegates to negotiate a fair contract for all members.”

ODOT

Katherine Gile, Driver & Motor Vehicle Services

“My name is Katherine Gile. I am asking you to vote for me to represent you at the Central Table to negotiate our next contract.

I have worked for the state for over 40 years, and have been a union member for my entire career.  I have seen the state in good times and bad, and over my career have seen slow, but steady improvements in our contract. I want to build on that and help make our contract even better.

I have served on the Central Table bargaining team for the previous two contracts. In our last contract we won the largest COLAs that many employees have ever seen in a  contract. Despite that, it was not enough. Inflation exceeds the financial gains we have made, and in the past two years inflation has spiraled out of control.

There are many other concerns facing employees besides financial. Job security, safety issues, bully bosses… I could go on, but you know what your concerns are.

I am motivated to fight for our needs! I have experience negotiating with the state’s bargaining team and winning gains.

I am nearing the end of my career and I want to settle a contact that I can be proud of. While I will soon retire, I have family and friends who continue to serve the State of Oregon and I want them to have the best working conditions and compensation possible.

Please vote for me!”

Angela Ward, Oregon Department of Fish And Wildlife

“I am running to serve on the central table bargaining team because I believe I can provide an organized approach and strong voice to advocate for the needs of staff in the ODOT Coalition.  In my previous bargaining experience, I demonstrated my capacity to arrive prepared with proposal language and supporting evidence, to collaborate with team members to ensure equitable distribution of contract improvements, and to calmly, yet passionately, negotiate with management.
I am currently the Vice President of ODFW Sublocal 109 and have worked for the State of Oregon for 15 years.  My career experience spans both field and administrative work across multiple subject areas, employment with state, county and tribal agencies, and ample opportunities to identify areas of improvement for how our organizations operate.  In my current role as a Business Analyst, I have negotiated contracts with vendors, authored contract language and advised others on how to implement strong contract agreements.  This work aligns perfectly with the knowledge and skills needed to be effective at our bargaining table.
Thank you for considering me as an ODOT Coalition delegate to the central table.  I would be honored to represent you on the bargaining team.”

Specials

Tamera Combs, Department of Revenue

“Hi, I’m Tami Combs and I am running for a seat at the Central Bargaining table.  I have experience bargaining at the special coalition table for 2019-2021 & 2021-2023 contract and central table in 2021-2023. I have strong union values and experience working with management to improve working conditions for members at the Department of Revenue. If you vote for me I am committed to representing all the agencies in the specials coalition and you will get a central table bargaining delegate with experience to lead the fight to win the wages we deserve and make sure we have safe work spaces for all!”

Kathleen Lamar, Department of Justice

“Hello, I have been a bargaining delegate since 2010, and have gained much experience at the coalition table over the years. I work closely with members, the organizers, coalition members, and the coalition chairs to identify issues and priorities for every bargaining session, and am not afraid to speak to the issues our employees face. I consider the facts and speak to them when presenting issues. I have taken the lead on interim bargaining in my own agency regarding the case manager series and beat back changes that would have taken away equity and pay for staff who would have been reclassed downward. I worked with HR to resolve issues during bargaining many years ago, within Dept of Justice, around mandatory versus voluntary overtime definitions and training.

I have been a leader, chief steward, labor management delegate for two committees, and Board Director, and I recognize the regular challenges to our retirement, pay, healthcare, and other benefits. As a long-term steward, when contractual issues arise, I am not afraid to stand firm with management on difficult grievances such as the Pandemic Recognition Payment and wrongful termination; whether the topic is morale, or bully bosses, I don’t back down and know what is right; even a small win, is a win, and I know I can work towards and achieve more the next time around. I work collaboratively with HR in my own agency, but always have the best interests of the employees at heart when resolving conflicts. That said, I also know when to be diplomatic, when to compromise, and when to accept a loss.

By observing, and learning, from the former co-chairs in the Specials Coalition over the last 12 years, I believe I have the experience and knowledge necessary to help lead our coalition team, and the Central Table team, to great victories in 2023.”

Tracy Thompson, Department of Consumer & Business Services

“My name is Tracy Thompson and I would like to represent you at the central table.

I have been a dedicated SEIU 503 member for 17 years. Throughout this time I have served as an officer and/or steward in three different locals and this is my third opportunity to represent my Union siblings at the bargaining table.

This promises to be a very challenging bargaining session. At this point, we don’t know who will be Governor, the economy is circling the bowl, and our members are facing increasingly abusive management.

We are going to need strong, steady, tenacious and experienced bargainers at the central table to demand a contract that will provide a prosperous wage, defend our benefits, and protect our members from unreasonable workloads, abuse, discrimination, and bullying.

As a steward, I have worked with members across our coalition to fight and win for their contractual rights, and I have seen where there needs to be improvements in our contract. For example; employees at the Department of Justice should not be persecuted for innocent occurrences in their personal lives, employees at the Department of Revenue should not be victims to their manager’s abusive behavior, the DAS parking enforcement should be paid a higher wage since additional duties have been added to their position, and I can list a plethora of issues at the Department of Consumer and Business Services.

In past bargaining sessions, I have fought with our coalition to win a higher tool allowance for the motor pool mechanics, better pay for the extracurricular work done by the workers at the School for the Deaf, worker protection for OSHA inspectors, appropriate pay increases for securities examiners at DCBS, better representation at the LMC for DCBS, fair distribution of lead work at DOR and much more.

As a leader for the Specials Coalition, I promise to listen to everyone, mentor our new bargaining delegates, be respectful to all views, keep inclusion at the forefront, and dedicate myself to our success.

I have proven my tenacious strength fighting for our members over the last 17 years and I have the experience we need to lead our group. I hope you will vote for me to represent our coalition and our statewide members at the central table this bargaining session.

In Unity,

Tracy Thompson”

Bernardo Tuma-Schmidt, Department of Education

“I am asking your vote because so much is at stake during this collective bargaining negotiation. We have only one chance to get it right, or live with the consequences of wasted opportunity for the next two years.

I am a top negotiator skilled on not leaving any money on the table that is due to our side, I am going to fight for what is fair and right. I am going to fight for the welfare of you and your family and I am not going to waste this unique opportunity when employees have the upper hand for the first time in several years.

I am going to get you a raise above the inflation rate to make us whole, the inflation rate is above 9% annually.

I am going to get you a yearly retention bonus to keep us at our jobs.

I am going to get you a monthly stipend for expenses incurred while working away from the office, or for requiring you to work on site.

We cannot accept anything less than what is fair, and we should be willing and able to strike and bring the state to a stop.

If you do not think you deserve a fair raise, a yearly retention bonus, and a monthly stipend for your working expenses, do not vote for me.”