SEIU AZ-5

Check Out Chandler Chapter Newsletter

2010-09-02T19:27:39Z

There's been a lot going on in the Chandler Chapter lately, what with the completion of our new agreement with the city and the election of a new chapter president.

Take a look at the latest newsletter, featuring stories on our new MOU, Chapter President Terry Linck and Chandler's third consecutive victory in the East Valley Water War.

There are also features on Union benefits available exclusively to SEIU members and how SEIU Resolution Specialists can help employees work through the grievance process.

The Chandler Chapter will be holding monthly meetings open to members and guests. The next one is scheduled for Sept. 21.

Your Mission: A Union Rep in Every Worksite!

2010-09-01T19:16:29Z

What's the Union Solution for these tough economic times? We get stronger together!

Our Chapter will have its largest bargaining team ever this year - we will fill the room with our most trusted, respected members to lift their voices on our behalf.

Many of you have expressed frustration with member communications in our chapter. We heard you! We're electing Union Representatives from every nook and cranny of Pima County, and they'll carry the news back to you from each bargaining session.

And, we'll start early this year! County management doesn't wait until January to plan their budget. We'll have our team in place soon and begin strategizing about how to protect the services we provide, our benefits, and fair treatment by our employer.

How are we going to get that team in place? Well, that's your job!

Step One: Talk to your most trusted, respected co-workers about serving as Union "Rep"s

Step Two: Nominate them using this form

Step Three: Vote in the Union Rep. elections at your worksite!

Gilbert's New MOU and You

2010-08-25T21:08:33Z

It's a tough budget year for public service employees all over the country. But Town of Gilbert employees represented by SEIU Arizona fared well in the negotiations that resulted in our new 2010-11 Memorandum of Agreement - which you can download here.

First, there was no 3% wage cut. The Town decided to use reserve funds to balance the 2010-11 budget after SEIU, Police and Fire unions proposed to take furlough days equivalent to a 3% pay reduction (rather than accept permanent pay cuts).

Our new agreement also calls for a Step Pay Schedule for SEIU-represented employees. Once the Town's finances improve, we'll see predictable pay raises within the salary range for each job classification. See Article 7, Section 5 of the MOU.

Vacation Accrual is improved, and you can find out how in Article 8, Section 5. Employees will also accrue two Floating Holidays in the pay period which includes January 1. Read about that in Article 8, Section 4.

Because we have a union, Gilbert employees now have a say on job reclassifications. We can now work on this issue with Human Resources before an reclassifications take place. See Article 7, Section 7 of the MOU.

Seniority now carries equal weight in the matrix used in the retention process in case of layoffs. See Article 5, Section 4.

And should employee rights covered under the MOU be violated, we now have a process to file an appeal. See Article 11 for that information.

Congratulations to the Gilbert Chapter Bargaining Team for making important improvements and additions to our agreement that will help all of us in the years to come.

State Employees: All Together Now!

2010-08-24T22:08:33Z

Catch up on the latest news from around Arizona's state offices...hear what your colleagues in Kingman, Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, and other places are doing!

ARIZONA STATE MEMBER NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2010.pdf

Victory in Chandler!

2010-08-24T17:10:07Z

In the toughest economic environment ever for City employees, Chandler's SEIU Bargaining Team delivered for our members during the final negotiations of this calendar year.

SEIU member-leaders did their hard work at the bargaining table and did their homework, too. The team made a case that management and City Council ultimately found convincing. The fruits of their labor paid off last Thursday, August 19, when the Council voted unanimously in favor of the final package for SEIU-represented employees.

Our new MOU includes:

Job Security language that respects employee seniority
Increased vacation days with enhanced "cash-out" provisions
Improved Employee Training schedule accommodations
Secured Retirement Health Savings Plan
Guaranteed Tuition Reimbursement up to $3,200 for fiscal year 2010/11, and
Assured the city's on-going commitment to Merit Pay

Download the 2010-13 Memorandum of Understanding.

Due to the difficult economy and its impact on city revenues, the normal Merit Pay 5% Step increase initially was not funded in fiscal year 2010/11. However, the Mayor and City Council, realizing this was a major sticking point with our members, took a hard look at recent revenues and savings achieved and voted for a one-time cash bonus for merit-eligible employees of up to 5%.

This commendable effort by Council demonstrated a "good faith" effort on their part and effectively accomplished the SEIU bargaining team's goals.

Congratulations, SEIU Chandler!

Maya Castillo Elected Pima Chapter President

2010-08-20T21:01:08Z

After two days of voting in the wake of spirited campaigns run by both candidates, Maya Castillo has been elected President of SEIU Arizona's Pima County Chapter.

Chapter members voted at County facilities and online Aug. 18 and 19 to choose between Maya and Dave Mitchell, our chapter's first president and a founding member of our union in Pima County.

It's a big County, with members spread all over the place, so many thanks to Pima Chapter Elections Committee members Mary Khan, Tina Duarte and Roxanne Lina Linarez for a great job organizing the election.

We'll be hearing from Maya in the days to come. In the meantime, congratulations to Maya and kudos to her and Dave for enthusiastic campaigns that energized our members to make a tough choice between two strong leaders.

State Member Meeting Thursday

2010-08-12T19:29:42Z

Stand up and join us on Thursday, August 19 at SEIU Union Hall. Food will be served at 5:30 pm and the meeting starts at 6. Check out our flyer for more details.

To RSVP, call Bridget Shea at 623-692-9313 or email her at bridget.shea@seiu5az.org.

Hey, Gilbert: LET'S VOTE!

2010-08-11T20:22:12Z

Elections for Gilbert Chapter Union Representatives are coming up next week!

Because Chapter leaders have received quite a few nominations for Union Representatives, three separate votes will take place to make certain that our members have enough reps available to them.

The number of Union Reps is determined by the number of members we have in a given area, with one rep for approximately 10 members. If you want to elect a member who is not on the ballot, there will be space available on the ballot for write-in candidates.

Voting locations and times:

Tuesday, August 17
11:30 am - 1:30 pm: Courts lobby (Civic Center)
2 - 4 pm: South Yard Parking Lot

Wednesday, August 18
11:30 am - 1:30 pm: Town Hall lobby
2 - 4 pm: North Yard Parking Lot

If you can't make it to any of these places at the times listed, please email Mike Potavin or call him at (480) 347-5421 and he'll get a ballot to you.

Join us at 4:30 pm Wednesday, August 18 at the Fieldhouse to count the votes and congratulate our new reps! Come celebrate with your union brothers and sisters.

The Not-So-Special Session

2010-08-09T23:32:13Z

SEIU State Employees Chapter leader Todd Schwarz has written this article about the special session called by the Governor to "fix" an already pointless ballot measure to "protect" the secret ballot in Arizona.

Notwithstanding the fact that secret ballot elections are already required for state and local elections, and notwithstanding the fact that state lawmakers have no jurisdiction over the National Labor Relations Act, this special session has been called - at considerable taxpayer expense - to prevent working people from organizing unions through the "card check" process.

If you're not sure about this issue, read Todd's article. If you think our legislators should spend their time on issues that actually help Arizonans during these tough times - rather than spending your money on phony wedge issues - let them know.

Email Gov. Jan Brewer

Email Speaker of the House Kirk Adams

Email State Senate President Bob Burns

The Latest from Tempe ...

2010-08-09T21:01:23Z

Find out what's happening in SEIU's Tempe Chapter in the August edition of our newsletter.

Chapter President Jackie Awosika tells us what it's really like negotiating our agreement - and how you can help improve it - in "Behind the MOU."

Newsletter editor Kathy Johnson has put together a great collection of stories about employee rights, shift-trading, how we can help co-worker Rose Valencia build a new house, the benefits of SEIU membership, and much more.

You can also find out how to vote on a new name for the newsletter ... and if there are any photographers out there, Kathy could use your help capturing Tempe Chapter events.

Gilbert Show of Strength at Town Council!

2010-08-06T23:24:11Z

Gilbert Members showed their strength at the July 27 Town Council meeting when council members voted unanimously to approve the Memorandum of Understanding negotiated by our fine Bargaining Team. Congratulations, Gilbert!

Download the 2010-11 Memorandum of Understanding between SEIU and the Town.

Pima Membership Strongly Endorses MOU

2010-08-06T21:09:35Z

The Pima Chapter's Membership, in a two-day vote that spanned dozens of County worksites and included at least one mobile voting location, barely missed unanimously approving the Memorandum of Understanding negotiated by the Meet & Confer team. After all ballots were counted, a lone "No" vote was cast. Congratulations, all, on your participation and membership!

Arizona State Furloughs Gain National Attention

2010-08-04T17:51:25Z

SEIU member Ret Ahimsa, who works for Arizona State's Division of Children, Youth and Families, shared the devastating effect the state's furlough days have had on her finances -- and her life. Read the CNNMoney.com story "Life on furlough: Working 12 months for 11 months pay."

Agreement on New Pima County MOU

2010-07-30T22:28:51Z

After a long series of Meet & Confer discussions that took place in a challenging budget year, SEIU Arizona's Pima Chapter Meet & Confer Team have reach agreement with the County on a new Memorandum of Understanding.

At a time when public service workers across the country have been confronted with layoffs, furloughs and benefit give-backs, SEIU-represented employees in Pima County have fared remarkably well.

The new MOU must be ratified by SEIU members to determine whether we send it to the Board of Supervisors for approval. All Pima County employees are invited to learn more about the MOU at ratification meetings August 4 and 5. All SEIU members can vote for ratification at those meetings or online. Here are all the details ...

Highlights of our 2010-11 MOU includes these new agreements:

Health Care - Continued the County's contributions to the HDHP health savings plan and ensured no increase in our costs for the PPO this year - saving almost $3 million in threatened health care cost increases for SEIU-represented employees! Plus the right to meet again in October about any potential changes in our health insurance for the next plan year.

Grievance Procedure - Process for pursuing employee rights if the MOU is violated, including arbitration by a neutral third party.

Wage Review - Commitment to meet about employee wages and deliver recommendations to the Board of Supervisors by next June.

Union Leave - Clarifies that SEIU member leaders give 3 work days' notice to conduct union business on work time (except for more immediate representation demands).

Improved Communication - Better union access to represented employees - through bulletin boards, work emails, and workplace mailboxes - so we can know the news that affects us.

Additional highlights include numerous renewed agreements and the addition of a number of other workplace issues to be addressed by the Meet & Confer Committee.

Congratulations to the Meet & Confer Team on a job well done!

Tempe's Water War Contribution

2010-07-27T17:48:00Z

In the East Valley Water Wars, you don't have to win the war to be decorated.

Tempe's membership worked hard, and collected cases of water, plus over $500 in contributions to the Tempe Community Action Agency.

TCAA's Executive Director Beth Fiorenza sums it up: "Thank you very much for the donation of funds and water to Tempe Community Action Agency from the SEIU! We really appreciate your support as we help families through the summer months."

TCAA reports they distribute 50-60 bags of groceries DAILY to Tempe's working poor families. They're in need of peanut butter, tuna, beans, and any other canned protein that can be shelved without refrigeration. See here to contribute food or money.

And Tempe SEIU...Congratulations on your well-fought Water War! (Pictured: Members Sylvia Whittle, Jackie Awosika, and Dora Chavez present the check and water to TCAA Food Resources Coordinator Monica Tegg)

Hey, Chandler: LET'S VOTE!

2010-07-26T21:16:57Z

200 Chandler employees and union members supported our bargaining team this year as we faced off over the cost of our health care benefits. We've made big strides on that issue as well as improvements in vacation and other benefits. Be counted in the ratification vote!

Voting on the MOU and for Chapter President takes place Wednesday, August 4 and Thursday, August 5 in Room 202 of the Chandler Community Center. You can vote betwen 11 am and 2 pm both days.

If you can't get to the Community Center, email Mike Potavin or give him a call at 480-347-5421 to schedule a time to cast your ballot.

Get the Latest Aug. 3

2010-07-26T20:59:10Z

What's the latest on our new Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Gilbert? What kind of progress are we making on workplace issues? And what's on your mind?

Stop by to get the latest news, ask questions and offer your ideas at the Union Update meeting Tuesday, August 3. Three sessions are available to give everyone a chance to participate. To RSVP, email Mike Potavin or call him at (480) 347-5421.

Union Update at
The Fieldhouse
1661 S. Val Vista (SE corner of Ray and Val Vista)
Gilbert, AZ
2:30 pm - First session
4:30 pm - Second session
6 pm - Third Session

Celebrate Tucson's Birthday with Supervisor Elias and SEIU!

2010-07-26T20:18:01Z

County Supervisor Richard Elías, along with co-sponsor SEIU Arizona, presents a FREE CONCERT at the beautiful, and air-conditioned, Fox Theatre. Local gospel and Latin music will be featured. See the details here.

Tucson Weekly Prints Letter About County's Leave Policy

2010-07-20T20:38:59Z

Pima's Chapter President Maya Castillo wrote a letter to the Tucson Weekly's editor regarding an article about County Library employee Carlee Hill. Carlee's story about needing leave time illustrates just one of the many County policies that could be improved through the Meet & Confer process. The story is here, in its edited form.

Speaking of Meet & Confer...the last Meet & Confer session this year will be July 29th. Dates for Member Voting to ratify the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), nominations for next year's Meet & Confer team, and the formation of an Elections Committee all are happening in July-August. Watch this space for details!

Who Will Be Our Union Representatives?

2010-07-20T19:25:49Z

Nominations for Gilbert Chapter Union Representative are now open. Elected Union Reps will serve a one-year term and are responsible for ongoing member communications and participation in union activities in their workplace.

You can nominate yourself or any member you respect and trust to be an effective Union Rep. Download the nomination form, fill it out, and contact Mike Potavin by email or call him at (480) 347-5421 and he'll pick up your form. The deadline for submitting nomination forms is Tuesday, August 10.