MSEA-SEIU Local 1989, Local 771
MINUTES
Chapter Meeting, February 12, 2010, 10 am to Noon
The Solidarity Center, 20 Ivers Street, Brewer, Maine
In attendance:
771 Members: Lois DiCesare, Dee Dee Strout, Carolann Cammack; Ted Rippy, Sheila O'Donnell (by phone), Helen Hanson
Wade Colpitts, 771 MSEA Board Liason; C.J. Betit, MSEA Field Rep; Maryanne Turowski, MSEA Political Director
Guests: Laura Binger, Food and Medicine; Jeff Siddons, Change that Works
Minutes from November meeting reviewed, Carolann Cammack made motion to accept, Ted Rippy seconded the motion, unanimous vote to accept the minutes.
Treasurer's Report given by Helen Hanson, as 771's treasurer, Pat Crowell is in Florida (lucky girl!) until April. 771's savings account $1,266.22, 771's checking account $517.59. $44.25 was spent on food for the meeting.
Membership Count Report, Wade asked Helen to call him for the numbers, as there is an MSEA board meeting Friday, Feb. 19. Wade also mentioned that he will ask for an update from Mike Sylvester on how Local 771 and KidsFirst will continue to grow without an organizer. Wade is bringing this concern from MSEA's Care Division to the Board at their next meeting.
Legislative Update from Maryanne, cuts to be made at 10% to all Medicaid (MaineCare) providers; nursing homes, home care, mentally disabled, mental health, cuts to state workers, hospitals, education, the governor is not proposing to increase taxes
The budget will cause loss of 7,000 to 10,000 jobs, the budget has the potential to increase property taxes for homeowners, people will lose jobs.
SEIU is lobby Senators Snowe and Collins about jobs money.
Representative Matt Peterson is the champion for home and community based care.
The LEAN process: providers are not happy with Matt's proposal to streamline the system, get money from administrative costs, and not out of the pay of the workers, the providers want no cuts, it is easy for them to say it.
Maryanne; Bruce Hodsdon, MSEA president; and Steve Butterfield, MSEA executive director, met with Governor Baldacci yesterday (Feb. 12). Ryan Lowe, he oversees the budget process, was also in attendance. The governor said that no program is coming out unscathed, there will be cuts. MSEA brought forth the Lean of Home and Community Based Care and said there are alternatives in the report. MSEA and Local 771 want the Department of Health and Human Services to take the recommendations coming out of the Lean seriously. The governor said he understands that nursing homes are very important. Nursing homes are #1, Residential Care Facilities are #2, Home-Based Care is #3.
The union is working on a message coming from workers to legislators about the Lean and streamlining the system, what is happening with the Lean report not being presented by DHHS to the Legislature.
Wade suggested that we workers write letters to the governor, we workers involved in the process sign on.
There was discussion about the work of a direct care worker, the Goold assessment and Elder Independence of Maine. Discussion on the self-directed programs and how that care delivery method is so much different than that of agency care delivery. Ted talked about his consumer in the self-directed program of Alpha One and how his workers are the team that keeps him home and as independent as possible.
More discussion on the Lean and how it gives consumers more choice. We have a shot at implementing the recommendations in the Lean, but not by July 1st.
The state budget cuts currently under discussion will go into effect on July 1st.
The contracts with Home Care for Maine and Alpha One cannot unilaterally cut workers' pay. Management has to reopen contracts.
Alpha One has a new contract with 34 votes in favor and 2 opposed.
The Direct Care Alliance, a national worker advocacy group that works on issues workers face in their jobs wants to set up a chapter here in Maine. Three 771 members have graduated from the DCA's Voices Institute, Helen Hanson in 2008, Ted Rippy and Dee Dee Strout in 2009. 771 wants to work with the DCA on setting up the chapter.
The DCA is also setting up a pilot project where workers can obtain a DCA credential that will be recognized across the country. The credential is for personal assistance workers who support elders and people with disabilities with the activities of daily living in their homes. The credential is based on what personal assistance workers need to know and be able to do in order to do their work well. The DCA will administer a test to those interested in obtaining the credential. The benefits to workers are that they will be able to demonstrate a broad knowledge base that is applicable to performing a high-quality direct care job. They will also formally receive professional recognition for their achievement at a national level. Workers can experience a sense of pride in their work and receive professional recognition from their colleagues.
Local 771 president, Helen Hanson, wants to roll this opportunity out to members in 771.
Maine PASA is conducting a membership outreach. Many 771 members are also members of Maine PASA. PASA is holding regional worker get together on March 27th. One meeting will be in Bangor, one in Waterville and one in the Lewiston area. PASA's leadership council is in the process of making phone calls to members, asking them what concerns they have.
Food and Medicine in partnership with the Eastern Maine Labor Council is hosting a Legislative Breakfast on February 20th at 8 am. This is a great opportunity for 771 members in the Bangor area to go and talk about their jobs and what the potential cuts to home care services mean to them. Carolann Cammack is attending and she'll bring up the Lean report and the fact that DHHS is not presenting it back to the Legislature. Food and Medicine has invited many labor unions to attend and talk to legislators in a show of solidarity. It is time for legislators to hear from labor. The cost is $5 to attend.
C.J. Betit mentioned that Home Care for Maine is currently not hiring. When they do hire, new workers wait three months for work, they do not get any, and then are taken off the company rolls. EIM is not putting new cases out to providers. Assessing those in need has changed; people get assessed then go onto the waiting lists, so Goold is not doing assessing.
Change that Works, Jeff Siddons, he covers Somerset, Piscataquis and Penobscot counties for Change that Works, still working on the Employee Free Choice Act and on Health Care Reform.
Feb. 24th at 4 pm at Husson in Bangor, Anthem rate increase public hearing, the public has the chance to ask Anthem why they are requesting a rate hike, again, on their individual policy holders. 771 members in the Bangor area are encouraged to attend. March 18 and March 19 rally and hearing in Portland.
Next 771 meeting: April 24th, 10 to noon, the Solidarity Center in Brewer.
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