Board Chair Bill Hall’s Weekly Leadership Report
In order to be successful in our 2023 Contract negotiations, we need to continue to build important relationships within the political world. With the help of the SEIU Local 1000 legislative team, I focused much of my attention last week on doing so as we simultaneously work to build our membership and build power in preparation for the 2023 Contract Campaign.
- We had a dynamic “Straight Talk” call last Wednesday, October
12. However, I am extremely concerned with some behaviors
present. For the first time since we began, I had to remove
three people from the call. I want to continue with the Wednesday
evening call; it’s an important tool for us to communicate and
share information. Moving forward, I hope this call returns to
being civil and respectful to ensure everyone benefits.
- I receive emails every day with the same basic themes:
- Local 1000 in-fighting is a waste of time and effort — please stop it
- Please listen to me as a dues-paying member
- My issues are more important than those of my fellow Local 1000 represented workers
I also read long emails that state positions, courses of action
or just make assumptions that since our represented do not see
results in our Contract that Local 1000 isn’t doing the work or
making the ask. The Local 1000 staff and bargaining team
have worked diligently, professionally, and conscientiously on
each and every Contract negotiated for the benefit of all
represented members. In order to meet and hopefully exceed these
expectations, we must do the work and increase our membership.
Now is the time for a team; for more “we” and less “me.” Only
together can we force the State to give us what we deserve,
especially in the areas we feel we’ve been left behind.
- As state workers, we’ve sacrificed time and wages and faced
health risks during the pandemic. As a result, we’ve likewise
earned a fair and reasonable Contract that recognizes the
dedication to state service we provide. Our Contract is arrived
at by “mutual agreement” after weeks and months of bargaining.
The power of Union membership and political engagement is what
will tip the negotiated settlement in our favor. Only when we
work together, consolidate our power, and challenge the status
quo by electing union-friendly politicians will the State
respond.
- Our staff and member leaders continue to make progress on
member recruitment, but we need more Job Stewards and DLC leaders
engaged in building membership to reach our goal. After
three months, our monthly recruitment rate is at just over fifty
percent of our goal of signing up thirteen hundred net new
members per month. We can do this if we all work with focus
and purpose.
- I am working with a governance expert on how to move forward
with our “Committee on the Future of Local 1000.” The plan
is to have this work / plan ready for Board review and adoption
on October 29. This will include an overview of the work, a
timeline, and a plan for committee member selection. The
current concept is to have the pieces in place for the December
Board Meeting.
- We are approaching the end of our current resource agreement with SEIU International. I, along with your three vice presidents, am in discussions on extending that agreement, which I believe would be beneficial to Local 1000. The expertise and assistance we have received has enabled us to move ahead with non-member recruitment. We have much to do and those resources are invaluable at this time.