Smile

Head Start

SMILE Head Start employees are hardworking and dedicated teachers, teachers' aides, cooks, bus drivers, and bus attendants.  It has been three years since they have received pay increases, and that is not fair.  As the Federal Minimum Wage increases this summer on July 24, 2009 to $7.25 per hour, SMILE Head Start employees are getting together to win pay increases.  They love their program.  They love the children and their families.  But these dedicated women need a raise to take care of their own families and communities.  All SMILE Head Start employees should take the employee survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PYNYI2B2VQcWJQ9EXgiS8w_3d_3d.

SEIU 21 LA President

Helene O'Brien

The new Provisional President for SEIU 21LA is Helene O'Brien. Helene has almost 2 decades of organizing experience, including community and political  organizing, in New York, Arizona, and Louisiana. She moved to the New Orleans area after Hurrican Katrina with her family.



Helene's goals as President this year is to lead the Local out of its status. To do this, she is working with a large group of members to write their Constitution and Bylaws and hold leadership elections. She has rebuilt the Local's staff and will double the Local's membership in 2009.  From New Orleans to Lafayette and Baton Rouge to Jefferson Parish, SEIU Local 21 LA's members are building their Union, member by member, and issue by issue. Our members' ultimate goal is to win fairness and respect on the job, in the communities and throughout the State of Louisiana.

Leaders Join Together

Baton Rouge

On January 10th, 40 union members from anound the state got together to set their goals for 2009 and to begin the process of writing the constitution and bylaws.

Inauguration Mayor - President

Melvin L. "Kip" Holden

 

           

School Buses

Jefferson Parish

Jefferson Parish’s Plan to Hurt School Bus Operators

The Jefferson Parish School Board is taking a drastic step towards forcing over 80 workers out of their jobs buy this spring. The Board’s new Owner-Operator Agreement has presented many bus operators with the choice of bad or worse. The new proposal stipulates that all bus operators must purchase a bus by this spring in order to hold on to their job.

-New busses generally cost around 30,000 dollars. How are those nearing retirement supposed to break even on this kind of debt?

-The cost of operating your own bus including insurance, maintenance and any unexpected repairs runs owner-operators anywhere between 6,000-10,000 dollars annually.

-Busses must be no older than 10-15 years as mandated by federal regulations. Meaning that just as the bus begins to turn profit—it’s time to buy a new bus!

-In exchange for the financial commitment the Board has asked the bus operators to make; the Board will give NONE in exchange. No promise of a route. No job security.

-If the operators do not buy a bus, they will lose their jobs. Most bus operators are working mothers who live (and pay their taxes) in Jefferson Parish.

SEIU 21 LA members are banding together to formulate a grassroots strategy to defeat this oppressive mandate. Right now we are networking with PTA, other support staff and community organizations to let the school board know: The citizen’s of Jefferson Parish will not let this policy pass! Bus 

Pay Stubs

Jefferson Parish

 

Jefferson Parish Paystub Solutions

Recently our Jefferson Parish School Support Staff had their paystubs yanked out from under them! They were not given an alternative. They were not asked. They were simply told that all of their paystubs would now only be made available to them online. While most of our members do not have regular access to a computer, these members have been forced to forge timely and often costly methods to attain what should always be expected from any employer—an explanation of payment.

Louisiana is one of just eight states that do not yet have a law requiring employers to provide a paystub. Everywhere the requirement to provide paystubs has been introduced; it has gained overwhelming public and legislative support.

We know that if we can bring public attention to this issue, we will win the same requirement here in the Jefferson Parish Public School System. Besides a publicity campaign we are aiding this effort with a petition for all Jefferson Parish School Support Staff. We’re confident that with 500 signatures and public support we will bring our members back their paystubs.  Pay stub petition

Shift Change

Baton Rouge

 

SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION 21LA TREATMENT PLANT OPERATORS UNITE

On January 9, 2009, Treatment Plant Operators who are employed by the City of Baton Rouge Department of Public Works division, were notified that they would be changing from working their 12-hour shifts, to working 8 hour shifts. Most of these Operators have been working this 12 hour shift for 20 years, some longer as long as it has been in effect, which is more than 20 years. This change would have resulted in a 20% cut in pay. Some workers would have to make changes in their family lives i.e. one worker would have had to go to court and change his weekend visitation rights with his kids, because the 8 hr change also would mean rotation of schedule every 4 months. Yet another workers’ wife is disabled, the change would require him actually being away from her more. The 20% cut in pay would have meant one worker loosing his home. This 8 hr schedule would happen in 30 days.

February 14, was the first day of the 8 hr work schedule. Managers did not care about the effect this would have on the employees or their families, nor did they ask. SEIU Treatment Plant members immediately took action. The first thing they did was ask other non-union TPO’S to take a stand with them, by joining their Union. They recognized that to fight this they needed more power. Daily the Stewards of the plants met up at the union hall for strategy sessions, and with new member union cards, building power. There were protocol meetings held, SEIU members from all over came together in support of TPO’S. SEIU Treatment Plant Operators uniting and building our union gave them the power they needed to WIN!!!

Employee Free Choice Act

Change that Works

Sodexo (SWU)

Aaron Varrett

 

Sodexo (SWU)

My name is Aaron Varrett, and I have been working in maintenance for the school system for 20 years now. I was a member of the Teamsters Union when I was employed by the New Orleans Public Schools. I knew the benefits of having a union at the work place. That is why when the union was put in place at Sodexo, I was one of the first to get on board. The union will provide raises, better work relations between employee and employer, and a great pension plan. The union is the best thing to come into any work place.

The biggest difference that I have found by having a union is the satisfaction of knowing that someone has my back when a situation arises. Without a union, (in this right to work state) we have to take whatever is thrown at us, and we had no say so, with that being said, the union is the best thing to come into our lives.

Aaron Varrett