Local 535 News

Local 535 Berkeley Chapter member Andrea Woods joined other 535 members and staff who marched against the threat of war on October 26. Over 100,000 people marched in demonstrations around the United States, and over half a million people people in Europe. The labor movement is opposing President Bush’s national militarization efforts. Labor councils are passing opposition resolutions and AFL-CIO President John Sweeny sent a letter to Congress asking the government to consider war as the last option.

December 2002

STAFFING

Field staff Don Evans, Valerie McCan-Murrell, and Susan Nye have accepted newly-created program coordinator positions. Each will be assisting in the development and implementation of strategic plans for our union. Rosita Wong has been hired as our second communications coordinator. Rosita will be working out of our Oakland office.

Debbie Macias accepted a permanent field representative position. Debbie has been an activist with 535 for many years and as a member of the Fresno County Unit 2, Child Support Chapter, where she has served as chapter vice president and chief steward. Debbie was involved with the successful agency shop campaign in Unit 2 and participated in contract negotiations and health benefits bargaining. She is filling one of the new positions in the Fresno office.

We welcome a number of new organizers to our staff: Liza Go has extensive organizing experience with women’s groups in the Philippines and Japan, as well as several years of experience with CAN, APALA, and the Filipino community. Janis Carroll, a Los Angeles County Chapter member and activist for many years with Local 535 and Local 660, is positive and passionate about the organizing work. David Otero has worked as a community organizer in the Central Valley and on political campaigns and an organizing campaign at the Fresno Bee. Local 535 member Catherine Balbas has served as Madera County Chapter President for the past six years and as member organizer and activist for many years. As a member organizer, she worked on campaigns in Orange County, Contra Costa County, and the Stanislaus and Fresno agency shop campaigns.

NLRB Election Statistics

In 2001, the union win rate in National Labor Relations Board-supervised elections increased slightly to 53.6% in more than 1,500 elections for 69,796 workers. The IBT (International Brotherhood of Teamsters), UFCW (United Food & Commercial Workers) and SEIU were among the most active AFL-CIO unions with SEIU being the most successful, winning 65.6% of its elections for over 14,000 workers.

Central Region Presidents Meet

On October 23, Central Vice President Elvira Dominguez and Central Regional Director Lisa Edelheit hosted the second annual central region chapter presidents’ dinner. Chapter presidents celebrated successes of the past year and discussed the challenges we will face in 2003. Program Director Damita Davis-Howard reported on plans for the New Strength Unity Program and the new 535 division structure. Organizer Dung Tran gave an update on what the organizing department was working on both regionally and statewide. Keith Bergthold from the San Joaquin Organizing Project was invited as a guest speaker to discuss the Valley Economic Leadership Institute and the important role organized labor plays in developing this concept into a reality. Chapter presidents were asked to identify the most important issues they are currently facing in their chapters. The majority responded that health care (increasing costs and lack of providers) is the number one issue, followed by contract negotiations in a tight economy. Other issues were staffing, electing another friend to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, and securing agency shop in the remaining open units to increase power for our members and their families. Those who attended found the evening to be both fun and informative and look forward to attending more such events in the future.

NASW Invites SEIU Local 535 members
to a Discussion On Confidentiality

The National Assoication of Social Workers Northern California chapter is holding a program “New Challenges for Confidentiality (HIPAA, Privacy, and Roadblocks to Referral)” moderated by Janlee Wong, NASW-CA Chapter, executive director. Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003 from 11:00am to 2:00pm, at the Holiday Inn Vallejo, 1000 Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo. For more information call (707) 644-1200 or e-mail Connie Einstadter, cweinst@worldnet.att.net.

Local 535 member and NASW regional director Ricka White is helping to organize the event. White also co-edits the special practices section of the NASW newsletter on child welfare. She is interested in articles from Local 535 members. You can reach her by email at Ms_Crimsonite@yahoo.com.