Local 771 Chapter Meeting Minutes September 19, 2009

LOCAL 771 CHAPTER MEETING 9/19/2009 MINUTES Attendance: Members:Helen Hanson, Joe Berry, Ted Rippy, Sherie Rippy, Pat Crowell, Juanita Burtt, Roxann Gargac, Local 771 Field Rep: CJ Betit Local 771 Organizers: Jay Economy MSEASEIU Board Liason: Wade Colpitts Review of Minutes of 6/20/09 Chapter Meeting Helen Hanson distributed the minutes of the 6/20/09 Chapter Meeting and they were reviewed and accepted. National Direct Care Partnership & Voices Institute Local 771 members Ted Rippy and Doreen Strout will attend the Voices Institute for leadership training in Wisconsin during the week of September 27th. Both Ted and Doreen will report back to MSEASEIU’s Board of Directors in November regarding their experiences at the Voices Institute. Treasurer’s Report Pat Crowell reported Local 771 currently has $896.43 in it’s savings account and $266.95 in it’s checking account. LD 1078 Update Ted Rippy reported on his attendance at the ceremonial signing into law of Rep Matt Peterson’s bill LD 1078, An Act to Strengthen Sustainable Long-Term Support Services for Maine Citizens. This ceremony was held in Gov. Baldacci’s Office on August 31st. This new law orders a comprehensive study of the home-care and residential care systems in Maine with recommendations to follow for Legislative consideration in 2010. Both Ted and Helen Hanson have been selected to participate in this study. The Alpha One agency has been a strong supporter of LD 1078, and A1’s Jay Hardy has also been selected to participate in this study. Area 1 Caucus Wade Colpitts announced that the Area 1 Caucus will be held Saturday, October 3, 2009 at DOT’s Blue Building on the Hogan Rd in Bangor. Members are encouraged to attend. HC4M’s 2009-2011 Contract Ballot Count Ballots were counted and the new HC4M contract was approved by a count of 70 yes to 5 no. Three ballots were voided due to being completed improperly. This new contract is for 2 years, and provides a 2% payraise. Alpha One Bargaining Update Field Rep CJ Betit reported that he , MSEA-SEIU’s Director of Organizing Mike Sylvester, and Local 771 President Helen Hanson met on 9/10/2009 with Alpha One’s Jay Hardy and Dennis Fitzgibbons to start negotiations for Alpha One’s next contract. Ted Rippy who is also on the Bargaining Team was unable to attend as he was in Washington DC lobbying for the Employee Free Choice Act. CJ Betit indicated A1 is committed to expanding and transforming their services to include not only self-directed services, but also surrogate directed and full agency directed services. Other issues discussed included wages & benefits but these will require future legislative funding so the new contract will include a wage reopener clause. A1 has also agreed to give out information on SEIU’s health and dental plans to new workers. As A1 reorganizes its agency it intends to become an employee owned agency which is actually run by it’s employees. As mentioned above A1 is strongly supporting LD 1078 and is actively involved in the comprehensive study of the home-based and residential care systems. Solidarity Harvest 2009 Ted Rippy distributed flyers for Solidarity Harvest 2009, a project of the Eastern Maine Labor Council and Food & Medicne, that collects and distributes Thanksgiving meals to laid off workers and families with children. In 2008 157 meals were distributed to feed over 707 people. To donate to this cause contact Laura Binger at 989-5860 or laurab@foodandmedicine.org. Next Meeting October 24, 2009 , 10AM – Noon at MSEA Headquarters in Augusta. Coffee and refreshments will be provided.