Below is union president, Helene O’Brien’s statement to the Metro Council:

Hi.  My name is Helene O’Brien. I am the president of SEIU Local 21 LA.  We represent employees of DPW, Head Start, Juvenile Services, the City Constables, the City Community Centers, Community Development, Mosquito and Rodent Control, to name a few.  And I am here today to ask the Metro Council to approve this contract.

This contract is a simple renewal, with no additional costs to the city-parish.  But it is a product of good faith negotiations between the Administration and its employees.  We’ve made modest changes to the previous contract.  The most important of which is to ensure access to training opportunities for all employees.  This expanded training access is essential, especially now as DPW re-organizes and upgrades its technology.  It is good policy to develop your workforce, especially the dedicated and committed workforce of East Baton Rouge City-Parish.

The only other changes to the contract are measures that ensure better communication and cooperation among the workforce and management, which, again, is essential in a time of great change.

Finally, the members of SEIU Local 21 LA, your City-Parish employees want to thank the Metro Council for its support and the Mayor for recognizing that when we disagree, and you all know that that happens now and again, that when we disagree, it is a family disagreement.  And that our members, your city-parish employees, are committed to serving the public with the highest quality and to make you proud.

Thank you.

SEIU Local 21 LA organizer Barbara Carter gave a rousing prayer of solidarity at the Congress of Day Laborers press conference on April 2, 2013.

Watch Barbara Carter’s prayer here: IMG_2391.

How can we improve the working and learning conditions in New Orleans schools for workers and students?

(March 5, 2013 – NEW ORLEANS) — “State of the Schools” is an action research report complete with recommendations that answers the question: How can we improve the working and learning conditions in New Orleans schools for workers and students?

Over the course of three months, a team of action researchers composed of former and current New Orleans school service workers – cafeteria workers and custodians – as well as New Orleans public school students came together for a participatory action research (PAR) project.

The PAR project developed from the need to investigate the impact decentralization is having in the schools by the two groups most impacted by the changes: the workers and the students they serve.

This intergenerational group, ranging in age from 9 to 74, created surveys, gathered data, analyzed findings; and as a result, came up with five solid policy recommendations to improve services. These findings are aimed at all 45 New Orleans school boards and will be released to the community during the March 13 event.

“One of the main reasons I signed up to be an action researcher is because I have children who attend Orleans public schools and I want the best education and learning environments for them,” said Jumal Otis, a seven-year food service worker in the Recovery School District. “I’m working to help all students and workers get the right pay and supplied needed so they can have better lives.”

Both Otis and her 11-year-old son, Carl served on the PAR team.

The second line will start at 4 p.m. at the Recovery School District’s new office located at 1615 Poydras St. and travel to the steps of City Hall, 1300 Perdido St.    Music will be provided by TBC Brass Band and the Messy Cookers. Free food will be served at City Hall. School leaders, both charter and traditional, will be attending to support.

The one-page summary of the report is currently available. The report in its entirety will be made available after the event. For more information, contact Jewel Bush at (225) 454-3853 or jewel.bush@seiu21la.org.

Aramark is contracted by the RSD to clean its schools. During the week of August 28, Hurricane Isaac swept through New Orleans and surrounding areas. Schools and many businesses were closed as a result. Even though classes were canceled, Aramark, a Fortune 500 company, was paid.

Instead of paying workers for their scheduled shifts that were canceled due to forces beyond their control, the Pennsylvania-based company and its Wall Street owners stiffed New Orleans workers out of thousands of dollars of pay. The loss of income put many workers into precarious situations.

“Not being paid for one day let alone a week is a hardship for me. I had to borrow money just to make ends meet,” said Rosalyn Markum, custodian at Benjamin Banneker School and New Orleans native. “I’m not a Fortune 500 company. I don’t have the luxury of being backed by Wall Street. I’m a single woman and I work hard for every cent I get.”

With the help of her union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 21 LA, Markum and her coworkers called out Aramark about making a week’s work of profits off of the suffering of New Orleans and the New Orleans people. After six months of talks, the Aramark workers finally received four days of pay.

“Me and my coworkers didn’t take Aramark’s no for an answer. We knew it wasn’t fair for the company to receive taxpayer money, but refuse to pay us workers. This is my community and

21 LA member and Aramark employee, Rosalyn Markham tells WDSU about the financial hardships she faced due to lost income during Hurricane Isaac. September 2012.

I’m going to fight for what’s right,” Markum said.

Mr. Louis Henry Cosie Jr., age 56, died on January 22, 2013.

Cosie, a Property Management maintenance engineer, was a dedicated Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 21 LA member who worked for the City of New Orleans for 32 years.

Co-worker and friend of more than 30 years, Keith Linyear, said, Cosie was a “well-liked person” who was known for speaking his mind.

“He was not a faint of heart type person,” said Linyear, who also works in the Property Management Department of the City of New Orleans.

Another co-worker, friend and union brother, Herbert Williams added, “He wouldn’t bite his tongue for nothing.”

Bruno Green worked with Cosie for two decades in the Property Management Department. They fished together and played golf once a week. Green remembers Cosie as a man who liked to make the people around him laugh.

“He thought he was a comedian or something,” Green playfully recalled.

Cosie was a member of the Professional Domino Association and traveled to play in tournaments as far away as California and Las Vegas even placing as high as second during his time on the domino circuit.

Cosie was an athlete too. He is well- remembered in the Ninth Ward for his time pitching at George Washington Carver High School. He also played college baseball at Southern University in Baton Rouge. Linyear shared the story of the time Cosie tried out for the minor leagues in the Midwest and the fabled Pete Rose was at a nearby training camp.

“I just remember the good times,” Linyear said.

Neighborhood friend, Thomas Adams, said, Cosie was a straight-talker who dealt with life’s adversity in a stride. He recalled these words of wisdom he often heard Cosie share: “You choose how you lose.”

Even though Annette Turner didn’t work with Cosie for decades like Linyear, Green and Williams, she developed a close relationship with him during the two years she knew him. Turner considered Cosie her father at work and often sought him for his sage advice.

“He was an intelligent man and his advice was always so real,” Turner said. “He would give advice without pointing fingers. I will miss him. I can’t call him and say, ‘How are you doing, Mr. Lou?’ ”

Cosie is survived by his mother, Ruby Cosie and children, LaTanya and Neal Cosie; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was a member of the Carver Rams Alumni Class of 1974 and St. Bernard Community Baptist Church.

Rest in peace our union brother.

Louis Cosie Jr. on his birthday, December 2012.

The Civil Service revised Rule 9 was approved by the Metro Council. This change will allow workers to take leaves of absence to participate in community and/or charitable work without their absences impacting their seniority or other paid time off such as vacation and sick time for community and charity work.

“We at SEIU Local 21 LA support this rule revision to the fullest. It is important that workers are able to be full members of society and   participate in valid activities that will improve our communities without the worry that he or she will suffer at work or lose the things they have worked hard to acquire for themselves and their families because of it,” said Helene O’Brien, 21 LA Union President.

Leon Goudeau is shown speaking at a Baton Rouge Metro Council meeting in December 2011.

Tell them that the best way to reduce the deficit is to create jobs and close tax loopholes for the rich and big corporations — not cut care and education for our kids.

Call the number below to be connected to the offices of your Senators and Member of Congress and make your voice heard.

Call 1-866-426-2631 on Feb. 7th. to say NO to cutting our children’s future.

Gray won the District E seat on the New Orleans City Council  in Saturday’s runoff election. Gray was endorsed by SEIU Local 21 LA as a candidate who will stand up and work for working families.

James Gray won the District E seat on the New Orleans City Council in Saturday's runoff election.

In the Baton Rouge Metro Council, SEIU Local 21 LA endorsed candidate  Banks-Daniel won the council’s District 2 runoff election.

Chauna Banks-Daniel won the Baton Rouge Metro Council District 2 seat in the runoff election on Saturday.

Unfortunately,voter turn-out is expected to be low. However, the issues and races are just as important as on Election Day back in November.

Please take the time to vote on Saturday.

SEIU Local 21 LA endorsed candidates:

New Orleans City Council:

District B:    Dana Kaplan

District E:    James Gray

Baton Rouge Metro Council:

District 12: Smokie Bourgeois

District 2: Chauna Banks-Daniel