2009 SEIU Lobby Day

May 8, 2009

On May 7, 2009, over 100 members from SEIU Local 517M and SEIU Local 1 participated in the Second Annual SEIU Lobby Day at the State Capitol in Lansing.

The day started with a standing room only press conference on the Public Services Accountability Act. The sponsor of the Bill, Rep. Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) was joined by bill supporters Rep. Fred Miller (D-Mt. Clemens), and Sen. Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit) along with SEIU Local 1 Detroit City Director Erica Kimble, SEIU Local 517M Secretary/Treasurer John Eck and SEIU State Council Legislative Director Cynthia Paul. This bill would require greater accountability when outside contractors are used in place of public employees. It is SEIU’s position that public employees are more efficient than outside contractors and save taxpayer dollars.

In the morning, members lobbied their state senators and the afternoon was spent lobbying their state representatives. Issues which our members talked to their legislators about included the Public Service Accountability Act, maintaining the Wetlands Program with the Department of Environmental Quality, the ability of unions to bargain over school outsourcing of non-instructional services, and local government funding.

During the lunch period, a parade of various legislators came in to talk to the members. Legislators that came by to talk to the members included former SEIU organizer and current State Representative John Switalski (D-Warren), former President of SEIU Local 502 and current State Representative Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield), Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing), Rep. Joan Bauer (D-Lansing), Rep. Barb Byrum (D-Lansing), Rep. Colman Young II (D-Detroit), Rep. Mike Huckleberry (D-Greenville), Rep. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge), Rep. Tory Rocca (R-Sterling Heights), Rep. Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint), Rep. Mary Valentine (D-Muskegon), Rep. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor), Rep. Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee), Rep. Richard Hammel (D-Flushing), Rep. Douglas Giess (D-Taylor), Speaker of the House Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.), Rep. Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak), Sen. Irma Clark-Coleman (D-Detroit), Sen. John Gleason (D-Flushing), Sen. Martha Scott (D-Highland Park), and a representative from the Governor’s office.

A special thanks to SEIU State Council Legislative Director Cynthia Paul, Local 517M Political Coordinator Steve Reck, and Local 1 Internal Organizer Bruce Feaster for putting this successful program together. Things happen when SEIU members use their political strength. Get involved, attend a lobby day, donate to COPE, be politically active because when public employees unite – politicians listen!

 Local 517M Secretary/Treasurer John Eck speaks in support of the Public Services Accountability Act.

 Sen. Gleason (D-Flushing) meets with L.517M leaders and staff to discuss issues.

 The Purple Wave outside of the Senate Chamber

 Sen. Whitmer meets with members.