They’re up early to meet with ADOT workers as they arrive.  They rush from DES to DEQ to catch employees on their breaks or to meet with others for conversations over lunch.  And they’re there at the end of the day as workers break for home. 

It’s a lot of work, but they have a good story to tell.  Oregon state employees are well-paid, have an excellent benefits package and are full partners in the decision-making process on issues that impact state workers.  The reason is clear – A large majority of Oregon state employees are members of SEIU.

“In Oregon, when we talk, people listen,” said Bill Kinyoun, an Assistant District Wildlife Biologist for the State of Oregon and vice president of SEIU Local 503.  “It’s not about Democrats and it’s not about Republicans.  It’s about getting people to recognize the need for better jobs and to recognize the value public employees bring to the quality of life.

“SEIU helps all that by bringing state employees together so rather than being one lone voice in the wilderness, we become one strong voice at the door.”

Oregon Department of Human Services employee Pat Fleming is president of SEIU Oregon’s DHS Local 200.  “We have about 13,000 members.  Every month, we sit with the various directors and the head of Human Resources to talk about problems and issues that have come up since the last meeting,” she told her Arizona counterparts.  “We fix things before they become too serious.  We don’t always win, but they always pay attention to us,” she added.

They certainly do.  Oregon state employees recently won a 6% salary increase and negotiated ‘no cost’ health care coverage.  One result of good pay and benefits is that turnover among Oregon state workers is low.  In contrast, the annual turnover rate among Arizona state employees hovers around 20%, costing the state millions in hiring and training costs, but also negatively impacting the delivery of services.

“People stay with the state of Oregon because they consider it a career,” Pat added.  “And the state recognizes the value of that.”

SEIU Arizona says “many thanks” to Bill and Pat, and to Sarah Cochran, Tamisha Wilson and Lisa Dixon for their hard work and their great example.