September 2011
New Solution Reports
New Solutions for Michigan Report – May 23, 2011
New Solutions for Michigan Report Executive Summary – May 23, 2011
New Solutions Town Halls Come to Grayling and Detroit
The Coalition of State Employee Unions has scheduled New Solutions Town Hall Meetings with invited local Legislators in Grayling, on Sept. 28th, at 6:30 PM, at the Ramada Inn, and in Detroit, on October 11, at 6:00 PM, in the Cadillac Place Building. Questions can be directed to Steve Reck at sreck@seiu517m.org.
Rally to Save the Postal Service
Postal Workers are rallying in every congressional district to help save the mail system. The Rally to Save the Postal Service is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27, 2011 from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm. The rallies are to be informational and not confrontational, petitions will be available for the public to sign and before the close of the Congressional office involved the petitions will be delivered to the office. It’s Your Postal Service, help save it and thousands of jobs by asking Congress to pass H.R. 1351
Events will take place at the following locations:
1st District 810 S. Otsego Ave, Gaylord, MI 49735, Contact: John Marcotte: 989-619-1741
2nd District 210 North Mitchell St, Cadillac, MI 49601, Contact: Cindy Opalek: 231-233-0764
2nd District 900 Third St, Muskegon, MI 49440, Contact: Joe Czarny: 231-578-7947
3rd District 110 Michigan Ave St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, Contact: Gary Smith: 616-458-8611
4th District 135 Ashman Dr, Midland, MI 48640, Contact: Brad McKenna: 989-213-6387
5th District Corner of Saginaw St & Kearsley St in front of the Waterstreet Pavillion, Flint, Contact: Alex Murray: 810-287-1278
6th District Downtown Kalamazoo Mall, East side of the Radison, 100 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, Contact: Bruce Hunter: 269-744-2661
7th District 800 W. Granson St, Jackson, MI 49202, Contact: Dan Bernstein: 517-750-9867
8th District Michigan State Capitol Steps, 100 N. Capitol Ave, Lansing MI, Contact: Jami Groce: 517-676-9657
9th District 560 Kirts Blvd, Troy, MI 48083, Contact: Linda Ammar: 248-229-7439
10th District 48701 Van Dyke south of 22 Mile, Shelby Twp, MI 48317, Contact: Mike Sheridan: 586-759-0390 office
586-808-8673 cell
11th District 17197 North Laurel Park Dr, Livonia, MI 48152, Contact: Jim Wolstencroft: 313-295-1640
12th District 27085 Gratiot just north of I-696 Service Drive, Roseville, MI 48066, Contact: Barb Neubauer: 586-556-6210
13th District 1400 Trumbull St, Detroit, MI 48216, Contact: Ben Dixon: 313-320-7755, John Serwach: 313-610-7232
14th District 669 Federal Bldg, 231 W. Lafayette, Detroit, MI 48226, Contact: Elaine Jones: 313-737-8159
15th District 19855 West Outer Dr, Dearborn, MI, Contact: Sandra Laemmel: 313-962-8296
Muskegon Activist Training Being Held
We Are The People – a diverse coalition of SEIU members, students, seniors, workers, families and organizations fighting to protect Michigan’s middle class – is hosting a Community Action and Organizing Workshop on Saturday, October 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This workshop will provide local activists and those interested in community organizing an excellent learning opportunity focused on improving our local communities. It’s all free of charge, with food, beverages and snacks provided. This event is open to anyone and everyone who is interested in learning how they can play a role as a local activist in stopping attacks on working families and moving Michigan forward.
The event is being held at:
Stevenson Center
Muskegon Community College
221 S. Porterline Rd 49442 Muskegon
Entrance in the Back of Building
Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Topics will include:
- Amplifying our message of middle-class values jobs, education, health care, basic rights.
- Using the power of 1-on-1 conversations to organize people and build movements;
- Creating a local action plan together linking up with others willing to participate; and
- Holding Lansing politicians accountable.
Visit: http://wearethepeoplemichigan.com
Like us: http://facebook.com/WeAreThePeopleMI
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7hfxpZXc9s
We look forward to seeing you there!
Local Action Workshop in Oakland County
We Are The People – a diverse coalition of SEIU members, students, seniors, workers, families and organizations fighting to protect Michigan’s middle class – is hosting a Community Action and Organizing Workshop on Saturday, October 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This workshop will provide local activists and those interested in community organizing an excellent learning opportunity focused on improving our local communities. It’s all free of charge, with food, beverages and snacks provided. This event is open to anyone and everyone who is interested in learning how they can play a role as a local activist in stopping attacks on working families and moving Michigan forward.
The event is being held at:
Michigan Education Association (MEA)
43252 Woodward Ave., Suite 200
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
(Crossroads Square Lake Road and Winthrop)
Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Topics will include:
- Amplifying our message of middle-class values jobs, education, health care, basic rights.
- Using the power of 1-on-1 conversations to organize people and build movements;
- Creating a local action plan together linking up with others willing to participate; and
- Holding Lansing politicians accountable.
If you have any question, please contact Justin Johnson at: jnjohns83@gmail.com or 248-991-5587
Please RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dGFQcm5qejBoRTVETVB4VXFXS3dqOGc6MQ#gid=0
Visit: http://wearethepeoplemichigan.com
Like us: http://facebook.com/WeAreThePeopleMI
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7hfxpZXc9s
We look forward to seeing you there!
House Ignores Cost Savings and Passes Union-busting Language
On September 15, 2011 the Michigan House passed House Bill 4929 which prohibits school districts from collecting dues from union members. The House Fiscal Agency Analysis acknowledges that this move “would have no significant fiscal impact on school districts.” So why are school employees being targeted? Is this a vendetta against school employees by the Republican-controlled House?
“I see this as another level of union busting,” says Kathie Fields, SEIU 517M Taylor School Unit President. “Our current State leaders are trying to dismantle public education in Michigan.”
View the actual legislation passed by the House
We will monitor this legislation as it moves on to the Senate.
New Solutions Candidate Forum Held in Saginaw
Member Political Leaders in Region I hosted a Candidate Forum on September 15th with 11 of the 12 candidates for Saginaw City Council and Saginaw Public Schools Board participating. All candidates were required to submit a completed SEIU Candidate Questionnaire before the event and schedule a designated time slot to meet with the leaders and members to further explain their positions on issues that are important to all of us. Included in the roster of candidates was our own Ernie Ahmad, Chapter President of SCCMHA, who is running for a Saginaw City Council seat (pictured with headline on previous page).
With the theme of New Solutions for all of us, candidates were each asked to review our “New Solutions for Michigan” and apply the same principles of the report to find new solutions for Saginaw City and Saginaw Schools. Member Political Leaders will convene on Wednesday September 21 to evaluate responses from the candidates and come to consensus on who will be endorsed for these local elections.
Member Leaders will be spending the month of October putting their “teams” together to walk for our endorsed candidates. A special recognition goes out to our Member Political Leaders who asked some hard questions and participated in a very long night on Sept 15:
Andy Johnson, Jan Hoffman, Rick Massey, Leticia Trevino, Rachel Charboneau, Cheryl Merrill, Jeannette Barnett, Roberta Oldenburg, Sam McGee, Betty Nash, Valerie Toney, Beccy Bank and Amy Davis Comstock.
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Saginaw City Council candidate, Annie Boench addresses group |
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Saginaw School Board candidate, Rudy Patterson addresses group |
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Amos O’Neal, candidate for Saginaw City Council addressing the group |
Detroit Free Press Reports on Governor’s Action on New Solutions
The September 16, 2011 edition of the Detroit Free Press contains a story about Governor Snyder’s actions concerning the New Solutions for Michigan Report recommendations. Read the article here.
In this story was a link to the letter he sent to State Personnel Director Jeremy Stephens directing him to conduct a “thorough review and analysis” into manager to staff ratios.
Earlier in the month, SEIU Local 517M Executive Vice President Phil Thompson and UAW Representative Cindy Estrada met with the Free Press Editorial Board to discuss the New Solutions Report. At this meeting, Thompson told the board “I think he gets it. My concern is whether the people under him get it, too.”
We await the findings of the State Personnel Director’s analysis.
Activist Workshop Planned in Saginaw
We Are The People – a diverse coalition of SEIU members, students, seniors, workers, families and organizations fighting to protect Michigan’s middle class – is hosting a Community Action and Organizing Workshop right here in Saginaw on Saturday, September 24th. This workshop will provide local activists and those interested in community organizing an excellent learning opportunity focused on improving our local communities, and you don’t have to drive to Lansing or Detroit to attend! It’s all free of charge, with food, beverages and snacks provided. This event is open to anyone and everyone who is interested in learning how they can play a role as a local activist in stopping attacks on working families and moving Michigan forward. Please find attached a flier with information on the workshop, on Saturday, Sept 24th, at the SEIU 517M Hall (1420 S. Michigan, Saginaw, 48602). Space is limited and filling up fast, so folks can RSVP at www.wearethepeoplemichigan.com/register, or email register@wearethepeoplemichigan.com
Technical Unit Vice President Election Period Now Open
The SEIU Local 517M is currently holding an election for Technical Bargaining Unit Vice President. As approved by the SEIU Local 517M Executive Board on-line voting is now open. All ballots, paper or electronic, must be received by the Lansing Office before Noon on Monday, October 3, 2011. A link for on-line voting and information about requesting a paper ballot can be found on this page below the Candidate Information.
Candidate Information
John Eck
Active member of Union since 1984. Steward since 1996. Steward of the Year in 2006. Attend Union trainings whenever offered. Participated in lobbying efforts in Lansing and Washington DC regarding issues impacting public employees. Prepared reports on consultant contracts and participated in drafting the New Solutions Report presented to elected officials in Lansing this summer. Member of Tech Negotiating Committee in 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and the current talks. Held elected office at the Chapter, Tech Board and Officer, and the SEIU Local 517M Board and Executive Officer levels. Past delegate to the SEIU International Convention. Additional experience on homeowners association board as Treasurer and past member of Church board of directors.
Kim Grezeszak
I have been a Technician with MDOT for over 11 years, currently working out of the Grayling TSC. I was appointed to the position of Technical Unit Vice President in May 2010 and currently serving in that position, as well as representing the Technical Bargaining Unit on the Local 517M Executive Board. Since 2003 I have served on the Technical Bargaining Unit Grievance Committee, as an alternate on the Bargaining Team, and also as a Chapter Officer.
(According to a prior agreement with the Office of the State Employer, you may use state equipment to vote during non-work time, before or after work)
Paper Ballots
You may request a paper ballot by contacting the SEIU Local 517M Office at (517) 267-2061. It is important that you give your Employee ID number, full name, and home mailing address. A paper ballot must be requested no later than Monday, September 19, 2011 to allow time for mailing and returning ballots.