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SEIU
LOCAL 513
3340 W. Douglas
Wichita, KS. 67203
316.263.0323
www.seiukansas.com
[email protected]
UNIT MEETINGS
USD 259 Custodial Unit
1st Saturday
Union Hall
9:30
USD 259 Nutrition Services
1st Wed.
Conf. RmC
9:30
MARCH 2015
UNION KILLING BILL SB 179 AND SB 212
TELL YOUR LEGISLATOR HANDS OFF
YOUR UNION!
GO TO THIS WEBSITE:
http://www.changekansas.org/action/petition/no-to-senate-bill-179
USD 259 Clerical Unit
Combined with Paraeducator Unit
USD 259 School Service Center
1st Wednesday Cafeteria
3:30
USD 259 Paraeducator Unit
2nd Wednesday Union Hall
5:00
City of Wichita
1st Tuesday
5:15
Union Hall
City of Hutchinson
3rd Thursday
Labor Temple 6:30
EXECUTIVE BOARD
2nd Saturday
Union Hall
9:00
OUR VISION
To be the unifying leader for all
service employees who desire
an accessible and proactive voice
on the job to help them attain just
compensation, fair treatment
and equal access to opportunities."
SB179 and SB212 are both going to be worked tomorrowmorning in
Senate Commerce Committee. These bills are measures aimed at silencing public employees who simply seek to improve their working
conditions. This would have vast negative consequences for public
employees and the state of Kansas as a whole. We need to stand up
and show our disapproval to these measures.
Many in the Kansas Legislature are trying to sneak these unjust measures through with as little noise as possible. We need to show that the
majority of Kansans are against these unjust measures. These bills are
scheduled to be worked on in room 548-S at 8:30 AM. An easy way to
show your disapproval with the legislation is by simply being present
during the meeting. Another easy way is to get in contact with your
legislators. It’s never too late to get in contact them and voice your
opinion on SB179 and SB212. It’s as easy as signing our petition,
which can be done by going to the website above!.
Business Rep’s Report
March 17, 2015
I have several things to
report—negotiations covering
our newest unit, the Security
Services Department at USD 259, the City of
Wichita, and finally what is happening on the
political front with the Legislature in Topeka.
I’ll start with the Legislature where public
employees are under attack as never before. All
in all, this report is a ‘mixed bag’.
On March 11, Local 513 President Jim Bishop
and I went to Topeka for a Senate Commerce
Committee Hearing. We were notified on
Friday afternoon of the hearing and a copy of
Jim’s testimony had to be on file before the end
of the day on Monday. The purpose of the
hearing was to hear testimony on a bill (SB 179)
that would effectively end contract negotiations
between employee organizations and local
government (Jim’s testimony is elsewhere in
this newsletter).
On Thursday, the next day, the same Committee
held a hearing on another bill, SB 212, to eliminate payroll dues deduction. On the following
Friday, the Committee was set to vote on
whether or not to send these two
union-busting bills to the full Senate. But
amazingly, the Senate Commerce Committee
chair canceled the vote!
The explanation given the press is that the
House Leadership said they could not guarantee
the two bills would be taken up in the House (all
bills have to pass both the State Senate and the
State House of Representatives).
It seems that in passing the Governor’s block
grant for K-12 funding, a lot of House members
felt like they got beat up. The House
Leadership was unwilling to take up the union
busting bills and risk a fight over that when
there is still a budget to pass. As long as they
are fighting each other, we MAY get by this year
by the skin of our teeth!
Negotiations at USD 259 for Security Services
are starting to get serious. The District rejected
our request for FMCS-style binding arbitration,
but they modified their original offer (which
contained no due process for terminations,
suspensions or demotions) to offer a different
form of binding arbitration. We have tabled
discussion over this and other matters while we
wait on the larger classified unit to decide what
it wants to do. It appears the District will ask
the classified unit to agree to the same or a
similar grievance process as the Security
Services. The District’s new offer is much
improved over their original.
Negotiations for a new contract at the City of
Wichita kicked off March 13. We are asking for
a new three year Agreement with substantial
changes to address problems that are starting to
turn up in City operations. We are also asking
the City to enhance the salary schedule to allow
our topped out members to receive merit
increases as well as a general pay adjustment
(sometimes called a COLA or cost-of-living increase).
WELCOME THESE
NEW MEMBERS!
Name
Employer
Matthew Chapman
COW
Branon Ward
COW
Carl Hoyt
COW
Artisha Dickerson
USD 259
William Brandstetter
USD 259
Claudia Duckett
USD 259
Laura Kidder
USD 259
Rollyna Hull
USD 259
Adam Frye
Hutch
Draw your own conclusion!
Wichita’s Candidates for Mayor: How they
answered
On Saturday, March 7, at a Mayoral candidate’s forum, Jeff Longwell and Sam
Williams were both asked the same question by a City of Wichita employee.
The question was:
“Collective bargaining between SEIU and the City of Wichita has benefited employees and the community, will you keep this system in place?”
Jeff Longwell’s answer:
“Yes, just look at my record.
I have been on the City Council
for eight years and have voted
several times to ratify the
contract with SEIU. Before that
I was on the Board of Education
in Maize and served on the BOE’s
negotiating committee with the
teachers I helped introduce Interest
Based Bargaining there.”
Sam William’s answer:
“I support the right of
everyone to belong to
to belong to whatever
organization they choose.
It is their right, it is in the
U.S. Constitution.”
Which One Answered the Question?
Who will You vote for?
SEIU LOCAL 513
3340 West Douglas
Wichita, KS. 67203
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Wichita, KS. 67214
Permit No. 203
SEIU LOCAL 513 NEWSLETTER MAR 2015
OPEN TO ACT TODAY!
INSIDE:
A WEBSITE TO
IMMEDIATELY
CONTACT YOUR
REPRESENTATIVE!