The following post is a lightly-edited communication from Len Norwitz and Johnny Earl of SEIU Local 503, OPEU concerning the union's on-going effort to win a fair contract for classified staff at Oregon's public universities. We have covered this struggle on this blog previously and we ask that our readers strongly support the union's position and turn out for solidarity actions. For those of us in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties this means turning out to support the union at either WOU (Monmouth) or OSU (Corvallis) on Thursday, February 8.
Here is the latest message:
a) I want to lift up our Classified worker Picket Training and lunch that SEIU 503 is arranging on the seven Public University campuses on Thursday, Feb 8th at noontime - highlighted below. Most of you have been in recent meetings (this fall/winter) with Classified workers and we really appreciate your support. So come on out if you can and use the link to register below - so we have enough food.b) I also want to tip our hats to the GTFF-Uof O settlement that came thru. It sounded historic in more ways than one and glad we could lend a little SEIU support to that huge win.
c) We are planning to work with education allies and other friends and labor in campus towns to send small delegations to the Universities Admin offices beginning on President's Day - Feb 19th and running into early March. I will be out to many of you to see if you can join in as we deliver the Community Support Petitions - as we close in on 1000 signers of this message. SEIU 503 Higher Ed Community Support Petition.
The message continues:
You’re receiving this email because you signed our SEIU 503 Higher Ed Community Support Petition. Thank you for your past support these last couple of months! We’re approaching 1,000 Community signatures so please continue to spread the word with sharing the link above. As an update, we are still far away from an agreement with management - as our 90 day economic reopener ended on December 31st and we enter mediation with management of the Seven Public Universities on Thursday, February 8th. We’re using the start of mediation to hold “practice pickets” at campuses across Oregon, and we’d love to see you there at noon time. Please RSVP here: Overview ⋮ Higher Ed Info Picket ⋮ Blackthorn ⋮ Events.
Classified workers from all seven of Oregon's public universities (UO, OSU, PSU, WOU, EOU, SOU, and OIT) will be picketing that day so management can see that we are ready to do whatever it takes to get the contract we deserve--and we're not backing down until we get it. Come on down to a public university near you and join us on the picket line at noon on Feb. 8. Bring your coworkers, family, and friends to help show university management that the community has our backs.
Unless university management comes to the table with fair proposals, this will be just the start of actions on campuses. Presently strike pledges are being collected and plans will be made for future campus visits, phone calls, and written communications to universities. Please feel free to let SEIU 503 Higher Ed Strategist Len Norwitz know how you can help in the future – at norwitzl@seiu503.org.
When we fight, we win!
In Solidarity,
Johnny Earl
You’re receiving this email because you signed our SEIU 503 Higher Ed Community Support Petition. Thank you for your past support these last couple of months! We’re approaching 1,000 Community signatures so please continue to spread the word with sharing the link above. As an update, we are still far away from an agreement with management - as our 90 day economic reopener ended on December 31st and we enter mediation with management of the Seven Public Universities on Thursday, February 8th. We’re using the start of mediation to hold “practice pickets” at campuses across Oregon, and we’d love to see you there at noon time. Please RSVP here: Overview ⋮ Higher Ed Info Picket ⋮ Blackthorn ⋮ Events.
Classified workers from all seven of Oregon's public universities (UO, OSU, PSU, WOU, EOU, SOU, and OIT) will be picketing that day so management can see that we are ready to do whatever it takes to get the contract we deserve--and we're not backing down until we get it. Come on down to a public university near you and join us on the picket line at noon on Feb. 8. Bring your coworkers, family, and friends to help show university management that the community has our backs.
Unless university management comes to the table with fair proposals, this will be just the start of actions on campuses. Presently strike pledges are being collected and plans will be made for future campus visits, phone calls, and written communications to universities. Please feel free to let SEIU 503 Higher Ed Strategist Len Norwitz know how you can help in the future – at norwitzl@seiu503.org.
When we fight, we win!
In Solidarity,
Johnny Earl
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