Dressed in purple, the Service Employee International Union rallied at the Capitol in Salem during a furlough day Friday to urge legislators to adopt new budget strategies. @@http://www.seiu.org/@@
“We need a balanced budget that is also a balanced solution, exacting sacrifice from everyone, not just workers, the vulnerable Oregonians we serve and the middle class,” SEIU executive director Heather Conroy said. @@http://www.seiu503.org/newsarchive/Candidate_for_Executive_Director__Heather_Conroy.aspx@@
The SEIU represents the classified employees on the University campus, including employees of the Department of Public Safety, Facilities Services and University Catering.
More than 4,000 local SEIU members and their allies came to the Oregon State Capitol to deliver a message to state officials.
The message, “There is a better way,” was brought on by a research report issued by Local 503 of SEIU, one of the 60 organizations that helped sponsor the event, titled “Moving Oregon Forward: A Better Way,” which was designed to point legislators toward a more efficient state budget, including limiting the number of furlough days for state employees.
The rally was attended by several state legislators, but the majority had left the Capitol by 11:30 a.m. when the rally took place, because it was a furlough day for state employees.
The SEIU was joined by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, who dressed in green to distinguish themselves. @@http://www.afscme.org/@@
The initial proposal to the public employee unions would result in smaller paychecks through decreased pay and increased health care and retirement costs.
A number of the SEIU report’s recommendations has been incorporated in recent budget updates.
The negotiations about contracts for the next biennium are ongoing as the state faces a $3.1 billion gap.
“Much more remains to be done to alleviate the burden on those least able to afford it — our children, seniors, lower-income workers and middle-class families,” Conroy said.