SEIU Lauds New Hospital Construction
(L-R) Donell Chapman (SEIU 503 Local 392 OSH President), Heather Conroy (SEIU), Dan Smith (SEIU and Master Planning Committee member) and Gov. Ted Kulongoski break ground for new state-of-the-art mental health hospital.
Governor Kulongoski and Senate President Peter Courtney joined Oregon State Hospital patients, mental health advocates, SEIU members and other lawmakers and local officials on Sept 3 for the official groundbreaking of a key component of Oregon's new state hospital system.
The groundbreaking commemorates the beginning of a five-year construction project that will bring the long-awaited replacement of Oregon's 125-year-old state hospital in Salem. This day has been long anticipated and marks the beginning of a welcome journey in the commitment to providing quality public services to the Mental Health community, the City of Salem and the State of Oregon.
"This is a historic moment for all of us," SEIU 503 Local 392 President Donell Chapman stated. "We have all worked hard to make the hope of a better future a reality for patients, our communities and for members of our union."
SEIU members thanked Governor Kulongoski, Senator Courtney and the Oregon legislature for recognizing the immediate need to fund staffing and security programs which will ensure that the new hospital can safely meet the challenges of caring for the mentally ill in the 21st century and beyond. We recognized the strength of working in coalition with the stakeholders, and are grateful for having had the opportunity to share our voice during the planning phases.
Dan Smith , an SEIU member who has served on the Master Planning Committee for the new facility added, "As the new facility is built, strides are being made to ensure that adequate staffing by a skilled and experienced workforce is on hand everyday from now until the doors of the new facility open."
SEIU members employed at the Oregon State Hospital pose with Rep. Brian Clem (and baby) during the OSH groundbreaking ceremony. L-R: Randy Davis, Roxy Barnstead, Lew Cronenberg, Rep. Clem, Donell Chapman, Dan Smith and Rosalie Pedroza.