Back to Home Print This Page Email This Page

May 12, 2008 SWEB & Staff Update

 

SWEB AND STAFF UPDATE
May 12, 2008

  1. SEIU Convention – The goal at the last convention 4 years ago was to have over 1 million members in Public Services by the 2008 convention. SEANC (State Employees Association of North Carolina) recently affiliated with SEIU. They bring over 55,000 members and is the first real penetration into the very anti-union south for SEIU. Also, we have picked up over 20,000 Child Care members with a joint organizing effort with AFSCME. Public Services will have 1.1 million members by the convention and overall SEIU will have over 2 million members in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico!! There are over 42,000 members in Puerto Rico in various agencies. SEIU has also filed for 32,000 state workers in Colorado.

  2. Deloitte audit – After meeting with Auditor General Jack Wagner’s office April 18, 2008, the Auditor General has announced he will conduct a performance audit of the Deloitte contracts in Pa. Republican leaders, current and former state employees, and others also asked for audits of the more than $330 million paid to Deloitte, an international firm with US headquarters in New York City and its ties to Governor Rendell’s administration. Our focus is also on the fact that the system does not work and the reduction of staffing that has occurred because of this ineffective system. This system has impacted several of the agencies we represent.

  3. Senate Bill 1278 – Senate Bill 1278 requires a final vote in the Pa. House of Representatives before it can head to Governor Rendell’s desk. It is imperative to preserve the TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) allocation (upwards of $800 million), while recognizing that the conversation about the $25 fee (and which families should have it waived) should continue, post enactment of HB 1278. Please call your member of the Pa. House of Representatives and urge a YES vote on SB 1278 this week.

  4. Meeting with Governor Rendell – Gene Quaglia, Joel Levin and I met with International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger Friday, May 10, 2008 to brief her on the County Assistance Offices and recent developments there. She is arranging a meeting with Governor Rendell and plans to be present at this meeting.

  5. COPE – SEIU International is conducting a case study on 668 and our tremendous increase in COPE over the first quarter of 2008. Through the efforts of our staff and leaders, we have collected over 400 cards in the first quarter of 2008. While this is certainly reason to celebrate, we cannot let down our efforts as we are still a LONG way from our COPE goals and obligations. The COPE Task Force has been active and continues to look at ways to increase COPE. The staff has been making COPE shop visits and we recently had a COPE Phone Bank night to contact non- COPE contributors. Also, each Chapter has been asked to form a Chapter COPE Committee……PLEASE keep up the GREAT work! What we have found is that you need to ASK members to donate. Once you explain COPE and the need to elect and hold politicians accountable, most members will give to COPE. Also, ask BIG – you are more likely to get $10 per pay if you ask for $10 per pay – even if you only half that, you did a great job!!!! So ASK BIG and keep up the GREAT work! I put the challenge out to every member attending the SEIU International Convention, and I put the challenge out to SWEB as well – have 2 members sign up for COPE before the next SWEB in June at the $10 per pay rate…you can do it!!!!!

  6. PEBTF – As I reported at the last SWEB, the PEBTF has tabled the efforts to add new non-state members to the PEBTF fund. This is due to legal issues and the contracts with the major providers. There were some questions from members concerning adding non-state groups to the PEBTF. PEBTF has always had some non-state groups – our staff at 668 have supplemental benefits there; Morrison dining, PEBTF staff, AFSCME staff, ISSU; PSCOA staff are all in the PEBTF. The main reason for bringing new groups into the PEBTF is to provide public sector groups/municipalities the opportunity to offer more affordable coverage to their members, because they could leverage the PEBTF purchasing power. A large membership base would also further enhance the PEBTF purchasing power in dealing with providers and plans. In short, bigger groups= bigger savings for all. A sub-committee has determined that it is not feasible to bring in new groups at this time. The Trustees (9 union and 9 management) have always taken seriously their fiduciary responsibility and as such, groups would only be considered if they were able to come in at an actuarially determined rate, which would cover their projected costs. There was no secret about this and it has been updated information at SWEB many times. The fund has come a long way since near bankruptcy in 2000. There is a $120 million reserve in the fund which is still short of a 3 month reserve, but good news to build on.

  7. COLA Retiree Lobby Day – Our retirees along with several other unions and their retirees converged on the Capitol May 6 to lobby for a long awaited and much-needed cost of living adjustment. This group has not had a raise in over 6 years. Many legislators were sympathetic to our cause and offered support.

  8. Obama news – After Senator Obama’s commanding victory in North Carolina and close showing in Indiana, the race is hopefully coming to a close soon – possibly by May 20. Then the REAL work begins to elect a worker-friendly and union-friendly President that cares about public services!

  9. Supplemental insurance – We hope to have some supplemental insurance plans in place beginning in July 2008 that can be done through state payroll deduction – disability, homeowners, auto insurance, long term care, and life insurance. More details will follow as the plans are finalized.

  10. Possible strikes – We are facing at least 2 possible strikes in our local units. We will keep you updated and ask that you support our fellow workers.