Downstate Division Quarterly Newsletter
BUSINESS CLEANING CORPORATION PREPARING FOR NEGOTIATIONS.
Preparing to enter contract negotiations, this unit consists of all part-time employees, mostly second jobs. Even so, this work force understands the value of being union and is looking forward to the bargaining process.
COLLINSVILLE FIRST STUDENT EMPLOYEES PUT THE CHILDREN FIRST!
Collinsville First Student has met the challenge of ownership change head on and is firmly focused on the well being of the students they serve. To that end, the issues they bring up now are not personal complaints but are concerns about the safety and upkeep of the buses and making sure the heat and air-conditioning work on the buses that transport the handicapped children, those most vulnerable. Going above and beyond is a way of life for the Collinsville First Student employees.
EAST ST. LOUIS LIBRARY CURRENTLY IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
Libraries are invaluable in the community. Unfortunately, the board that runs this library believes it should be free including all the work performed by employees…and their reasoning is that the board is made up by volunteers. Uh. Yeah. But the employees are NOT volunteers and should be fairly paid for their valuable services to the citizens of this community.
GALESBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAN ON PUTTING THEIR TRAINING TO WORK!
Many of the stewards at Galesburg participated in the stewards’ training put on in Galesburg this last winter. Having good stewards who work well together is the best situation for any unit, and Galesburg puts a face to that goal! Working with each other, with management, with the contract and their union representative, they bring the best that all of those have to offer to the members.
PATHWAY EMPLOYEES DEMAND DIGNITY AND RESPECT:
While in mid-term wage and benefit negotiations, it became clear that management was unwilling to truly negotiate as they brought ridiculous issues to the table and never budged on any union requests. And all this while buying costly land and housing! Pathway employees then did what so many have had to do before them…peaceful protest! There was a special anniversary party being held, a picnic, with the upper management, Board and major donors. Employees wearing purple handed out leaflets to people driving in or just driving by, spreading the word that as employees devoted to the special clients Pathway serves, they deserved more than to keep losing more benefits with each negotiation. Vice President Dale Hillier led the protesters right up to the picnic tables, politely stating our reason for being there. When management tried to intimidate by taking pictures of the group, we took pictures of them! Their intimidations didn’t work and the employee’s are prepared to do whatever it takes to be treated fairly!
QUINCY HEAD START EMPLOYEES SEE THE LIGHT, DOES THE BOSS?
Finally a ray of light for all Head Start programs in the new funding coming through the new administration. Being held at no increases in the program for many years, Head Start was not just staying in place, it was going backwards! But President Obama and his administration believe in the early education of our children and supporting the communities who embrace those values. As the Quincy Head Start unit enters negotiations, they feel more secure and confident that their value to the school district is being recognized and rewarded. Time will tell but we know the stimulus package already recognized the program’s value…we look forward to the school district rewarding their dedicated employees.
SPARC MEMBERS KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE ILLINOIS BUDGET.
Having negotiated a contract last year that allows a wage reopener should the legislature change its’ funding, Sparc employees anxiously await the new Illinois budget. It’s been bleak for non-profit funding the last few years and the employees are caught in the middle between the state trying to decrease spending and management trying to fund its operation. The economy has hit the private donors, as well. Sparc employees stay focused on the clients and their needs and take on additional jobs waiting for the economy to improve.
SIUE KEEPS MOVING FORWARD:
SIUE is a very independent group led by capable stewards. The relationship with management is improving, which is a benefit to everyone. SIUE is growing in stature and relevance and this should provide added security to the SEIU members working there.
ILLINI WEST/CARTHAGE SCHOOLS EYEING THE FUTURE.
Having ratified its first contract last fall, the employees at the new Illini West school district are making lists of the items they want to go after next time. No contract accomplishes everything we want, and first contracts are especially frustrating, but the employees know that each time it gets better. The sister unit at the grade and middle schools in Carthage have been in existence longer and have worked out many of those kinks. Quiet, hard working employees in both units bring much to their community.
ACCESS SPRINGFIELD DRIVERS PROVIDE MUCH MORE THAN JUST DRIVING!
Assisting those with special transportation needs should be a job with honor and respect, but that’s not always the case. Being great bus drivers is only one skill that Access drivers need to have and they struggle to make management see that they are not just cogs in the wheel. Unfortunately it is hard to make management see that Access provides different but equal service as the regular route drivers, their buses should receive the same care, and the drivers should receive the same respect and benefits. But this unit will keep working to change those attitudes!
PACT HEAD START
Surveys have gone out and we have formed our Bargaining Team for the upcoming bargaining session at PACT . Sarah Crenshaw, Patty Swank, Iris Seckman, Connie Mc Colez and Mernie Yex have started to prepare proposals. We are also looking to do a steward and member training in the Mt. Sterling area in late summer.
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS:
The security forces and firefighters at the Illinois Air National Guard bases in Springfield and Peoria will meet shortly to ratify a new contract. It’s a tough time to be negotiating given the economy, but made harder for this unit by the cloud of no flying mission hanging over the Springfield firefighters. In March, representatives of the union and the Springfield Air Guard firefighters flew to Washington DC to make their case. Getting a flying mission for the Springfield Air Guard wasn’t just the DMA firefighter’s goal…it was also the goal of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Mayor, Springfield Airport Authority and all the other parties who went to Washington DC. Those parties met with Sen. Durbin, Sen. Burris, Congressmen O’Hare, Schock and Shimkus, and Secretary of Transportation Poe. The impact of these firefighters on the different communities was clear, and to have that many different groups make you their goal was encouraging and heart-warming.
UIUC HAPPENINGS:
IN FOOD SERVICES, UIUC Management decided to redefine how overtime opportunities exist and are attempting to fill our positions with extra help. Management claims that if an open slot exists two weeks or more out from the day of scheduling, they have the right to fill it with extra help and not offer it as overtime to our members. The Union filed a grievance over the issue as well as filing an unfair labor practice charge with the Education Board. A meeting was held with a mediator from the Board to see if a resolution to the issue could be found. While the Union offered ideas to try to resolve the issue, management rejected the Unions offer and made no attempt to offer any resolution of its own. The meeting was closed and the Union informed management that we are moving forward with the charges as well as proceeding to arbitration over this issue.
For Facility and Services, management reached out to the Union advising us that they wanted to implement a “PILOT TEAM CLEANING” program and wanted to work with the Union on the effects of the program. During the first meeting ideas were discussed as well as how the program should be started. It was agreed (or so we thought) that F&S Director Randy Kornegay would draft up an outline of the ideas discussed in that meeting for further discussion at the next meeting. Unfortunately, there SEEMED to be some misunderstanding as to how we would proceed and Mr. Kornegay started PICKING volunteers for the start up of the program. At the next meeting the Union made objections to what had occurred and both parties agreed to start over again from square one. We also want to hear from our members with ideas and issues concerning team cleaning so they can be presented during these meetings. If you have any ideas or concerns on team cleaning, please contact Justus Fortado at the Urbana Union office at 217-328-7509.
ON THE UIUC CAMPUS, SEIU Local 73 is a member of the Coalition of Campus Unions. During the most recent meeting the Coalition discussed the Universities search for a new Provost. The coalition felt that the hiring of a new Provost would have an effect on all workers at the campus and felt the workers should be represented during the search to fill that position. With that in mind, an open letter from the Union Coalition is going to be sent to President Joe White requesting that a coalition member be made part of the search committee and be a part of the interview and decision making committee searching for a new Provost for the UIUC campus.
CULBERTSON HOSPITAL
It seems like we were just at the bargaining table a few months ago at Culbertson. Actually we were, we secured a one year deal and are back negotiating our second contract. The nurses are ready to go Nancy Lemaster, Brittney White Cheryl Howard and Cindy Kunkel, Veronica Williams and Christina Hardy will serve as Bargaining Team members and we are optimistically hopeful that things will go a lot smoother now that the first contract is under our belt.
EAST ST. LOUIS AND ST. CLAIR HOUSING AUTHORITIES FOCUS ON TRAINING
Affordable housing for low income and senior residents is only as good as its maintenance and upkeep! The maintenance, grounds, extermination and janitorial staff at ESLHA and the maintenance staff at SCHA face daily challenges to keeping the homes in good repair under the strains of the budget crises. With many skilled, long time employees in each of these units, training for both their work skills and their union roles will be the focus over the next year.
KNOX COLLEGE
The surveys have been collected and our Bargaining team consisting of Brian Hale, Cathie Brush , Sherman Kelley, Jo Ann Gibbons, Pat Pendergast, Kelly Danielson and Karen Ford- Kelley are getting the proposals ready for contract negotiations. We are in the very early stages and will keep everyone updated when there is more to report. At the last membership meeting we had a bigger turnout and we are hoping to build participation by conducting regular membership meetings on the first Monday of each Month.
MEMBERS AT DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACHIEVE EXCELLANCE!
SEIU Local 73 members at Decatur Public schools achieve “AVENUE OF EXCELLANCE” award for performing duties above and beyond. Dwight “Buddy” Peck and Steve Stolle from the maintenance department and Ron Maier and Mark Rankin from the Custodial staff were honored for their dedication and performance. Congratulations to these members for their excellent service.
SEIU Local 73 Downstate
NEWSLETTER
June 2009
MARK YOUR CALEDAR FOR THE FIRST SEIU LOCAL 73 MEMBERSHIP CONVENTION.
SEIU LOCAL 73 will be holding it first membership convention on October 10, 2009 at Malcolm X College in Chicago. While the details are still being worked out, the one thing that is definite is that it will be great opportunity for all Local 73 members to attend and meet their other Local 73 brothers and sisters from throughout the state of Illinois and Indiana. Officers from our International will be present as well as an invitation being sent to President Obama.
Mark your calendars today for this great event and stay tuned for further information.
SECRETARY OF STATE MEMBERS KEEP AN EYE ON THE BUDGET!
Budget time is a busy time in Springfield, with all of the political posturing going on in the Capital. Local 73 has been diligently monitoring and working with our lobbyists and membership to make sure our voice is heard and our interests protected. We are closely monitoring an Ethics Bill which would negatively impact the representational rights of a SOS employee who would be terminated for violations of the proposed new ethics rules. We are actively opposing any Bill that would change retirement, pension or health care funding. We just recently participated in a town hall forum opposing a proposed change in the retirement system from its current form to a two tier system. The other major issue is to ensure that the Secretary of State’s budget gets adequate funding to support the wages and benefits negotiated in the Union contract. This is why it is important for our members to be involved in the political COPE program of the Local to ensure that the political process does not adversely affect the working conditions our members have come to expect. If you are not signed up for COPE please contact your steward to do so.
MEMBER RESOURCE CENTER
To better serve our members, we have created a Member Resource Center. There is a toll free number you can call and the staff will either answer your questions or get those questions to a representative who can address the situation. This is just another way to have better communication with our members, so feel free to call 1-888-734-8573 with any questions or concerns you may have.