Say Union, YES!
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www.opeiu8.org Vol. 25, No. 5 October/November 2010 CALENDAR Go to www.opeiu8.org and click on Membership Assemblies and GHC Workers in Spokane Chapters (icon on the right) to get the full schedule or contact the Local 8 office. Say Union, YES! PEIU has represented members at GHC in Western Washington Upcoming Chapter Ofor many years, and now their counterparts in Eastern Washington/ Meetings Northern Idaho will have the same opportunity for a voice on the job and the protections a union provides. About 80 employees voted on September Saturday, October 16 22 to join with their union co-workers. n Yakima This was a hard fought victory for the 80 Patient Registrars, Southeast Yakima Transcriptionists, Health Information Specialists and other employees. Community Center Earlier in the year, workers lost their election by 4 votes as a result of GHC’s 1211 S. 7th St., Yakima threats of withholding a long overdue wage increase. The National Labor 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Relations Board held a two day hearing in which seven members of the Union Saturday, October 30 Organizing Committee testified to GHC’s objectionable conduct. The NLRB n Aberdeen found in favor of the Union and ordered a new election to be held to enable IAM Woodworkers Hall employees to make their decision freely without employer interference. 2600 Sumner Ave., Aberdeen The Union Organizing Committee dedicated themselves for months to 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon educating their co-workers about why having a union would be beneficial Wednesday, November 17 especially during these uncertain times. Their perseverance made the difference, n Shoreline as well as, support from our GHC members in Western Washington. A special Shoreline Conference Center thanks to Executive Board Member Michelle Ruiz, and Shop Stewards Jan Sheriden Room Abberger and Elaine Carlson who took time to go to Spokane to meet with 18560 1st Ave. NE, Shoreline their non-union co-workers. 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Contract negotiations begin soon and we look forward to welcoming our Upcoming Member newest members to OPEIU. Education Saturday, October 16 Next Membership n Seattle (New Steward Training) Skyway Library Assembly 7614 S. 126th St., Seattle Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon n Aberdeen/Olympia Area Saturday, November 13 Location TBA n Bellingham (Worker Rights) 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fairhaven Library 1117 12th St., Bellingham Local 8's Membership Assembly in Ellensburg, Sept. 25. Story Inside. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Page 1 Executive Board 2nd Membership Assembly in Ellensburg Kellie McGuire President Held September 25 Kathi Scott Vice President n July 2009, Local 8 members voted Cindy Schu Ion a new, historic governance struc- Secretary-Treasurer ture designed to be more inclusive and Evelyn Bowles responsive to members throughout Recording Secretary the State. In January this year the new Karen White, structure was launched with over 100 Central members attending our first Member- Valancy Blackwell, ship Assembly held in Seattle. Once Central again our Assembly, this time in Eastern Ruthie Cuthrell, Washington, had excellent attendance Central and participation. Anthony Forte, Central Jan Hays, Central Member Terry Hall, Executive Board Member Karen White and Election Chair Alan Wolfson count ballots David Olivera, for the Trustee Election. Central Carmen Paez, North A few highlights: Audrey Gunderson, • Congratulations to Lois Jamieson who was North elected for a second term as a Local 8 Trustee. John O’Keefe, • New Central Labor Council positions: North Debbie Haney, Kitsap CLC; Mary Fassnacht, Mary Jo Dalzell, Twin Harbors CLC. North Recording Secretary Evelyn Bowles • Members voted to Kathi Taylor, South and President Kellie McGuire approve a new Member address the Assembly. /West Hardship Fund to begin in Bill Messenger, January 2011. South/West • Other Committees met to plan actions for the coming months: Michelle Ruiz, Political Action; Shop Steward/Leadership, Diversity; and Chapter South/West Meetings/Assembly. Mike Gimlin, East • We approved our year to date financial statement which showed Barb Brennan, East us in a stable financial position. Our Sergeant of Arms, Robin Sullivan, Shaunie Saelee East Joan Weiss Trustee Lois Jamieson Trustee Heather Hanson Trustee Carol Rozumalski Trustee Our Providence Hospital Delegation, Laurel Coalwell, Executive Board Member Audrey Gunderson and Janice Herrera. Members of the Political Action Committee. Page 2 Not pictured, Board Member John O'Keefe. 2010 Ballot Measures This Election Will Decide Who Calls The Shots The choices we make on these initiatives will determine whether we can educate our children and provide health care for our seniors and our kids. Big lobbyists and special interests are behind five initiatives this year. Only one – 1098 – is a true citizen initiative. The one referendum – R52 – is also home grown. Because I-1098 and R-52 would do what’s best for Washington, they deserve a YES vote. The five special interest initiatives deserve a NO. We can’t trust big, out of state, lobbyists and special interests to do what’s right for Washington. Five initiatives (1053, 1082, 1100, 1105, 1107) would give big lobbyists and special interests control of our state coffers and cost our communities over $1.2 billion – that’s money that should go to things we all value like education, public safety and healthcare1. This election will test our values as Washingtonians. We know that protecting education and health care from further cuts is the right thing to do. Do take control of our investments in education and health care Vote YES on I-1098 and Approve Referendum 52 Don’t let big lobbyists and special interests call the shots Vote NO on I-1053, 1082, 1100, 1105 and 1107 Yes on 1098 – Cuts Your Taxes, Raises Money for Education and Healthcare • I-1098 cuts the state property tax by 20%, eliminates B&O taxes for small businesses, and establishes a strictly limited income tax on the wealthiest 1% of households. • It raises $2 billion a year dedicated to education and health care. • By law, the first $200,000 ($400,000 for couples) of income is exempt. • It includes accountability measures like regular audits. • The tax rates or who pays them cannot be changed without a vote of the people. Approve R-52 – For to Healthy Schools • Many of our aging school buildings are riddled with problems like mold, rusty pipes, and asbestos filled walls that are interfering with the learning environment. • R-52 would provide funding so that local school districts across the state could retrofit and renovate school buildings so that they are safe and energy efficient. • Retrofitting and renovation work will create 30,000 good construction jobs for Washington families, putting people back to work immediately. Initiative fiscal impacts from the Washington State Office of Financial Management 1 No on 1053 – No to BP Oil, Big Banks and Special Interest Tax Breaks • I-1053 would allow just 17 legislators to block the majority from taking action on a responsible, balanced approach to the budget. • Because a small minority could prevent the majority from closing tax loopholes, 1053 will lead to even further cuts in state services like education, healthcare and safety. • California has a similar two-thirds requirement and it has caused a mess of partisan gridlock. • This Tim Eyman initiative that flips democracy on its head by letting a small, partisan minority control our entire state budget. • Special interests like BP and Bank of America are behind I-1053 because they want to keep their special tax breaks and loopholes. No on 1082 – No to Insurance Industry Fine Print • I-1082 was written by the insurance industry, so it’s loaded with fine print that will help Wall Street giants like AIG unfairly profit from our workers’ compensation system. • It allows private insurers to set their own rates with virtually no oversight. • I-1082 will cost state and local governments $250 million over the next five years. Small businesses would be left to pay skyrocketing rates after insurance companies cherry-pick large and less risky businesses. No on 1100/1105 – No Risky Liquor Initiatives • Initiatives 1100 and 1105 are too risky and go too far – threatening communities, families and important public services like law enforcement. • Hard liquor stores in neighborhoods and communities across the state would increase ten-fold, from 315 to at least 3,300. • Every gas station, mini-mart and convenience store would be allowed to sell hard liquor near schools, parks and in high crime areas – from 6 am to 2 am. We would see an increase in underage drinking, drunk driving and other related crimes. • The risky liquor initiatives will cost the state and local governments more than $700 million over the next five years. That means more cuts to services like education, health care, police and firefighters. No on 1107 – No to DC’s Big Soda Lobby • I-1107 would repeal the small, mostly temporary tax on non-essential items like soda pop, candy, bottled water and gum. • It’s worth 2-cents more for a can of soda to raise $100 million per year to fund schools, health care and services for seniors and kids. • The American Beverage Association – the national lobbying arm of the big soda companies – is behind 1107 and they are running a highly deceptive campaign. Don’t be fooled – there is no food or grocery tax in Washington. Soda and candy are not food. In fact, 99 percent of the funding for I-1107 comes from soda lobbyists. From: Ballot Initiative Network, 1402 3rd Ave., Suite 201, Seattle WA 98101 (206) 420-0139 2010 WSLC Endorsements Following are the 2010 election endorsements of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.