Off to a Flying Start

Off to a Flying Start

State Workers Flock to Bargaining Conference

More than 160 leaders representing over 20,000 members of SEIU 503 in units of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) and the Oregon University System (OUS) gathered July 26 to begin planning for bargaining for new contracts in 2009.
SEIU 503 Vice President Sonya Reichwein from Driver and Motor Vehicle services chaired the daylong conference, which covered all aspects of the coming negotiations. Bargaining surveys were distributed to attendees. For the first time this year DAS and OUS Bargaining Surveys are available online. All members are encouraged to share their views.

Lookback: 2007 Campaign

Members listen thoughtfully to Lea Spencer, Revenue, as she speaks from the floor.

Members started with a look back at the 2007 campaign. Sarah Cochran , Gresham Human Services, and Randy Davis , Oregon State Hospital, reviewed political actions that led to increased staffing in Child Welfare by restoring the Social Service Assistant positions and opened the door to bargaining over institutional safety and staffing.

Dana Margosian , Bend Human Services, and Belinda Melindez , Southern Oregon University, described successful worksite actions.

Peggy Salas , Revenue, stressed the importance of keeping our actions fun!

And John Hess , Administrative Services custodian, received a standing ovation when he thanked one and all for standing with the custodians against a proposal to reduce their wages. Executive Director Leslie Frane reviewed past victories, identified clear priorities and laid out challenges the coming negations are likely to present.

Cameron McGinnis , Transportation, shared his experience organizing Colorado state workers. CAPE chair Barbara Casey , Human Services, and SEIU 503 political staffer Melissa Unger gave a briefing on the fall election touching on the importance of electing federal candidates committed to health care reform and the Employee Free Choice Act, key state legislative races and ballot measures. Kathleen Lamar , Justice, and Donna Glathar announced that the new DAS bargaining team will deliver petitions on behalf of office workers. Marc Nisenfeld , Portland State University, and organizer Molly Malone shared ways to use bargaining surveys to advantage in recruiting new members.

From the Floor

Then attendees had their turn, discussing views of the coming statewide bargaining from the floor for nearly an hour. Some common themes included the need for better oversight over contractors and reduced privatization; health care; increasing CAPE contributions; adequate cost of living adjustments to wages (COLAs), stopping misuse of limited duration employees and temporary workers; and a longer term contract.

The Coalitions
The afternoon was devoted to Coalition breakouts. Organizers DJ King and Bob Novick led the Human Services (DHS) breakout where delegates elected Dennis Green , Employment, and Karen Miller , Human Services, as bargaining chairs.

In the Specials breakout led by organizers Casey Filice and Jeff Pullman , delegates elected Rob Sisk , Administrative Services, and Trish Lutgen , Education, as chairs.

Betty Huskey, ODOT, listens to James Jacobson, UO.

Organizer Joe Schaeffer led the Institutions breakout where Dan Smith , State Hospital, and Dan Ferguson , Oregon Youth Authority, were elected chairs. Bill Kinyoun , Dept of Fish and Wildlife, and Kermit Meling , Transportation, were elected in the ODOT Coalition breakout led by organizer Troy Barnard .

Research Director Paul McKenna and Assistant Executive Director Rich Peppers led the OUS breakout along with the new team chair Marc Nisenfeld , PSU. Additional OUS team members are Mark Uhden , Oregon State; Gary Moses , Eastern Oregon University; Deanna Berglund , University of Oregon; Greg Marks , Portland State; Bob Sexton , Southern Oregon University, and Corlyn Caspers , Oregon Institute of Technology.

The DAS team presented the OUS team with signed pledges of solidarity to fight together to win the tenth step in the salary scale for OUS members.