Local 771's First Meeting of 2008

771's first 2008 meeting was held today at MSEA Headquarters in Augusta. Members in attendance were: Joe Berry, 771's Vice President; Helen Hanson, 771's President; Anne Rogerson, 771's Executive Board Liason; Tim Belcher, MSEA-SEIU's Executive Director; Rod Hiltz, Director of Field Services. Items discussed were LD1687 and how that is moving along; the proposed cuts to the Home Based Care and Homemaker Programs; 771's need to elect a new treasurer; all the different training sessions that MSEA is offering; the Area I Caucus to elect delegates to the SEIU Convention at the end of May; the need to set up the Labor Management Committee for Home Care for Maine; the need to get the signature page of HCM's workers' contract finished; 771's blog. LD1687 is the bill to allow Dirigo to insure Direct Care Workers. The Direct Care Worker Coalition is working on this with the Insurance and Financial Services Committee. A hearing was held before the Insurance and Financial Services Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Helen Hanson presented testimony in favor of this bill. She told committee members that many Direct Care Workers do not have health insurance. She said that without it, coupled with low wages, it is "hard to pay for the things you need, such as oil to heat your home and food to feed your family, routine check-ups and yearly medical exams to help keep you healthy." This testimony was presented on behalf of 771 membership and MSEA's affiliation with the Kennebec Valley Organization. To date, IFS has tabled the bill in order to look into funding Dirigo further. The DCWC was very pleased at this as it left the bill to be worked on further, instead of voting it down completely. As we all know, our Home Based Care Program through Alpha One is facing a $2 million cut and our Homemaker Program through Home Care for Maine is facing a $800,000 cut. Helen Hanson, local president, presented testimony in opposition to both cuts before a joint session of the Appropriations and Health and Human Services Committees on Thursday, Feb. 7. This testimony was presented on behalf of all Local 771's membership. Yes, 771 has lost its treasurer, Leslie Hickey. Due to outside circumstances, she is no longer able to fill these duties. Is there anyone in 771 that is interested in filling this position? Please contact Steve Butterfield II or Rod Hiltz at Headquarters (1-800-452-8794) and we'll hold another election. MSEA is offering a meriad of training in the upcoming weeks. (See Dates to Remember at right) All chapter officers of MSEA locals need to attend an Officers' Training. There are four training sessions throughout the state. Wellstone is training for political action. In order to attend this, you need to register at Headquarters. In March, MSEA-SEIU's Labor Management Training will take place at the Augusta Civic Center. This is for MSEA-SEIU members serving on Departmental or Statewide Labor Management Committees within the Executive Branch. Members serving on these committees in other bargaining units are welcome to participate but are not eligible for organizational leave unless they make individual arrangements with their supervisor. Where Home Care for Maine workers will have a Labor Management Committee, I strongly urge you to attend if you're interested in sitting on this committee. Please contact Headquarters in order to register. Article 6 of Home Care for Maine's contract states that HCM workers and management will establish a Labor-Management Committee. We are entitled to have 4 representatives, fellow workers, and 4 representatives from management that are appointed by the union. Workers who sit on the committee will be compensated for 2 hours of pay from HCM and for mileage from the union. The committee is to meet quarterly and will deal with the day to day concerns regarding the workplace. Anyone interested in serving on this committee please contact Steve Butterfield II at Headquarters. Home Care for Maine's contract has not been printed yet because the folks involved with the contract negotiations have not signed the signature page. Lastly, the next meeting for MSEA Local 771 is scheduled for Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 4:30 at MSEA Headquarters in Augusta. I hope everyone reading this can attend.