Local 771 Meeting; Saturday, March 21, 2009, MINUTES

Present Members: Helen Hanson, Ted Rippy, Pat Crowell MSEA Area I Director: Wade Colpitts Local 771 Field Rep: C.J. Betit Local 771 Organizers: Jay Economy and Aymie Walshe Review of Bargaining Survey 10% returned in first week Top two issues – Pay, Wage Increase, Health Insurance Third – Holiday/Sick Leave benefits Fourth – Increase Mileage Reimbursement Fifth – Better Training Sixth – Work Schedules/Breaks Fair Raise: 12 said 12.00 per hour; 4 said 2.00 per hour; 10 said 1.00 per hour; 2 said 1.00 per hour plus benefits; some said cost of living; some said more hours Health Insurance: 26 have health insurance, 11 of those through a spouse; 8 private pay; 7 receive MaineCare; 15 have no health insurance Membership discussion Some people think they’ve joined 771, but there is no record of their membership Organizers having access to Home Care for Maine orientations, not just area meetings Organizers need to present the issue to Home Care for Maine workers that they need to choose either to be a FairShare member or a Full member Set up a system for new hires/Alpha One lists have no hire date Bargaining survey returns expressed many issues of respect for the workforce. There was agreement that many do not understand the level of skill necessary for the work regardless of the certification someone may have. This profession should get the same respect as other workgroups because this workforce takes care of others. Consumers for Affordable Health Care Voted meeting Jan. 10th to join CAHC, $50 donation; discussion of 771 and Kids First joining CAHC together as MSEA’s Care Unit; Kids First not ready to join; Consensus still for 771 to join CAHC; check written for $50 membership and mailed National Direct Care Partnership An initiative of the Direct Care Alliance; should 771 join? This needs to go before MSEA E-Board to see if 771 needs board approval; Wade will present 771’s wishes to the board, at their next meeting, and find out what the process is Bargaining discussion C.J. Betit: April 30th need to file to demand bargaining for Home Care for Maine; the survey will help with proposals; team will meet and decide on proposals and what the objectives are; CJ will serve as chief spokesperson; HCM has paid time to bargain contract, YES Jay to continue to recruit for both Alpha One and Home Care for Maine bargaining teams Alpha One bargaining; bargaining pending legislation, may start in early summer Set dates for two bargaining forums: MAY 16th, Bangor, 10 am, blue DOT building on Hogan Rd; MAY 30th, Portland, 10 am, MSEA office on Congress Street Legislative Discussion LD 323 – Representative Sharon Treat’s Insurance Transparency Bill; continue working on this through the Kennebec Valley Organization and Consumers for Affordable Health Care; monitor and contribute LD 400 – This comes out of the Blue Ribbon Commission studying long-term care in Maine; Aymie to follow up with Senator Margaret Craven to find out why it is tabled and what will happen with it. LD 1059 – Senator Nancy Sullivan’s bill, directing the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance to set up a pilot project to insure a small amount of Maine’s Direct Care Workers to see if having health insurance helps with worker retention; not yet known how workers or which agency will be picked to participate; bill worth $500,000 out of General Fund for FY 2010-2011; project to last four years LD 1078 – Representative Matt Peterson’s bill; sustaining quality long-term care in Maine; there’s a companion bill on wages, not out of reviser’s office yet; 771 track closely and work with Alpha One to contribute calls, emails 771 work on member turnout and possible consumer turnout when bills are heard in committee; generate presence to move these bills forward Kennebec Valley Organization Three health care workshops planned in the Kennebec Valley; 4/18, 9-11, Pipefitters Hall, Augusta; 4/28, 6-8 pm, St. Francis Parish Hall, Waterville; 5/7, 6-8 pm Centenary United Methodist Church Hall, Skowhegan KVO focusing on Direct Care Worker insurance bill and transparency bill VOICES Institute Direct Care Alliance’s leadership training for 9/27 through 10/3/2009 in Wisconsin; intensive week long retreat to learn about advocacy, fundraising, organizational development, message development and more; DCA pays transportation and lodging; DCA requests a $300 deposit for workers to attend; Ted interested in attending; DCA cost may be issue; Wade suggested bringing request before board for scholarship for 2 771 members to attend; whoever goes will report back to board on experience; MSEA needs to know when DCA requires deposit Change that Works Rob gave a summary of SEIU Change that Works campaign on health care reform and the Employee Free Choice Act; health care reform – core principles, access, affordability, shared cost, shared responsibility and a wide network; EFCA – current system for union organizing is not working; workers face management threats and intimidation when forming unions, or if they get their union, they face dodging tactics from management when it comes to negotiating contracts; good chance to actually pass EFCA; SEIU organizing house meetings throughout Maine; 600 people have already sent letters, hosted house meetings or spoken with an organizer; blueberry pies are going to Congressional offices with stories on good jobs and healthcare Anthem rate hike hearings; coalition of partners (KVO one of them) worked to get turnout at hearings; 60 people at the Gardiner hearing alone; many people expressing frustration with current health care system; Superintendent of Insurance Mila Kofman offered to hold further state-wide hearings to get stories on how the current system is not working Senator Snowe agreed to meet with workers on 4/22 in DC after Congress recess Chambers of Commerce putting a lot of money into campaign against Employee Free Choice; for the first time EFCA supporters on the offence and have a real chance to change the system so that workers can form unions Next Local 771 meeting: JUNE 20th, 10 AM, MSEA Headquarters, Augusta; brunch of sweets and coffee will be available