For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Ohio House GOP Renews Attack On Workers' Rights
Columbus, Ohio - In response to memos sent today by Ohio Representatives Ron Maag and Kristina Roegner stating their intent to introduce separate legislation attacking public and private sector workers' rights, Service Employees International Union District 1199 President Becky Williams has issued the following statement:
"I am just appalled by the efforts of Representatives Maag and Roegner to once again attempt to silence the voice of workers across the state of Ohio, this time in both the public and private sector. This will hurt people we trust like librarians, nurses, mental health providers, social workers and so many others."
"So-called right to work is confusing, complicated and controversial. Right to work isn't what it seems and makes us all less safe. This is just another attempt by CEOs and corporate interests to end unions, as we know them so they can tip the balance even more in their favor at the expense of the middle class."
"Governor John Kasich, Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder and Senate President Keith Faber have an opportunity to demonstrate real leadership in this moment. History and the people of Ohio will judge them based on what they choose to do to stop so-called right to work in Ohio."
"Let us not forget the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, when he said, 'In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as 'right to work.' It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone...Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer and there are no civil rights. We do not intend to let them do this to us. We demand this fraud be stopped. Our weapon is our vote.'"
Health Care for 120,000 West Virginians...
STATEWIDE FORUM and Training
Sunday, April 7
Christ
Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier
2:00pm - 3:30pm (Doors open 1:30pm)
Did
you know that
our state has the opportunity to draw federal funds to provide health care for
120,000 working families? If Gov. Tomblin says "yes" to Medicaid
Expansion, the Federal Government will provide more than 90 percent of the
costs to pay for health insurance for families who are working but making less
than 138 percent of the federal poverty line.
The rest of the costs will come from the enormous savings from families
no longer relying on costly emergency room care. Governors across the country, including 8
Republican and all Democratic Governors have said yes to Medicaid expansion
because it is good for their state's budget, economy, and health. The program would create 6200 new jobs in
West Virginia alone!
DO
YOU WANT TO BECOME A CO-SPONSOR? All
Co-Sponsors must commit to: 1) bringing at least 5-10 people to the forum, 2) spreading
the word about the forum through your networks, 3) signing and distributing the
attached petition and 4) joining our e-mail list so you can find some way to
participate in the planning process by phone or in-person. All sponsors
will be recognized on our fliers and from the stage at the forum. To sponsor, e-mail Renate Pore (renatepore@gmail.com) with SPONSOR in subject heading. If you wish to attend but not sponsor, e-mail
Renate with RSVP in the subject. Current sponsors include West Virginians for
Affordable Health Care, The Presbytery of West Virginia, WV Council of
Churches, Team for WV Children, WV Healthy Kids and Families Coalition, WV
Alliance for Sustainable Families, WV Center on Budget and Policy, National
Alliance for Social Workers-WV Chapter and SEIU Local 1199, American Friends
Service Committee.
Take
this back to your group, union, or faith institution. At the forum, everyone will also receive basic
training on how to advocate for these changes in your own community. We encourage you to come to the forum, so you
can take back information and strategies to continue this work afterward!
SEIU Healthcare sponsored a report released today, "Through the Eyes of the Workforce: Creating Joy, Meaning, and Safer Health Care," by the Lucian Leape Institute at the National Patient Safety Foundation. The report focuses on the health and safety of the health care workforce and calls on health care organizations to initiate broad organizational changes to reduce physical and psychological harm to health care workers.
Dr. L. Toni Lewis, Chair of SEIU Healthcare and the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR), served on the roundtable that researched the findings for this report.
The report is especially timely as March 3 - 9 is National Patient Safety Awareness Week. Patient safety is inextricably linked to health care workers' safety and locals like SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH are leading the way to ensure that workplaces are safer for caregivers and patients.
Workers seek community support as Heartland of Charleston weighs outsourcing of jobs to French-based Sodexo
CHARLESTON, WV - Quality care and services should always be a top priority for our seniors and people with disabilities. Unfortunately, management at Heartland of Charleston could be putting that at risk if they move forward with plans to outsource the work of the dietary department to French-based Sodexo.
"As hard-working employees of Heartland of Charleston, our Union members wake up every day with one thing on their mind - how can they provide the best care to our residents," said Terri Tamborello, Administrative Organizer for SEIU District 1199 and chief negotiator. "We are asking our residents, their families and the community to join the workers who are standing strong against attempts by the employer to outsource jobs."
SEIU District 1199 members will distribute leaflets to the community on Thursday, December 20th, 2012 from 6:30am to 7:30am and 2:30pm to 3:30pm in front of Heartland of Charleston located at 3819 Chesterfield Avenue, Charleston, West Virginia.
Employees will meet with Heartland of Charleston management on Friday, December 21st at the Country Inn & Suites in Kanawha City in hopes of reaching an agreement before their current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 31st at midnight.
WHO: Workers
at Heartland of Charleston,
Members of SEIU District 1199
WHAT: Community leafleting
regarding patient services & quality care
WHEN: Thursday, December 20th,
2012
6:30am to 7:30am and 2:30pm to 3:30pm
WHERE: In front of Heartland
of Charleston
3819 Chesterfield Avenue
Charleston, West Virginia 25304
###
Know Your Rights: The Right to Representation
If you are ever called into an interview meeting with your supervisor or manager so they can investigate a situation which might result in discipline, you have specific representational rights. These rights are summarized below:
1. You have the right to have a Union steward present.
2. If you want a steward there, you must ask for him or her.
3. If you do not know why your manager wants to meet with you, ask him/her if it is a meeting that could result in a discipline.
4. If your manager refuses to allow you to bring a steward, repeat your request in front of a witness. Do not refuse to attend the meeting, but do not answer any questions either. Take notes. Once the meeting is over call your steward at once.
5. You have the right to speak privately with your steward before the meeting and during the meeting.
6. Your steward has the right to play an active role in the meeting. She or he is not just witness.
These rights are called "Weingarten Rights" based on a 1975 Supreme Court decision (NLRB vs. J. Weingarten). As with all rights, if we do not use them we lose them.
This statement could save your job:
"If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated I respectfully request that my steward be present at the meeting. Without representation present, I choose not to respond to any questions or statements."
