SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH
Executive Board Summary: September 9-10, 2011
Our mission is to improve the lives of working people and their families
and to achieve greater social and economic justice.
September 2011 Executive Board
SEIU 1199 Swears in Largest Executive Board in the Union’s History
On Saturday, September 10, 173 Executive Board Members were
sworn in for the 2011-2014 term. The first President of SEIU
District 1199, Tom Woodruff, administered the oath of office to
the Executive Board Members and Officers. SEIU District 1199’s
Executive Board of 242 members is the largest in the Union’s
history with 62 of them serving on the Board for the first time.
These Executive Board Members are accepting their leadership
roles during one of the most direct threats to our Union in recent
history. As the collective bargaining rights of many of our brothers
and sisters are being threatened, our dedicated Executive Board
Members continue to stand up for the rights of workers.
Where are the Jobs?
More than 400 Executive Board Members
and friends of SEIU District 1199 marched
to Ohio’s Capitol to ask Governor John
Kasich, “Where are the Jobs?” Activists
gathered outside the governor’s office
holding signs that spelled out, “Kasich, where
are the jobs?”
"We haven't seen the job creation that Gov.
John Kasich promised,” said Executive Board
Member Linda Venditti.
In June, Ohio’s jobless rate rose for the first
time in 22 months, largely due to Kasich’s
layoffs. The jobless rate rose again in July,
with local government layoffs increasing to 5,500 jobs over a two-month period. Nearly 1,000 jobs were shed
from Ohio prisons. John Kasich has cost Ohio good paying jobs with benefits, including those of teachers,
nurses and first responders.
Resolutions
PASSED: April Board Meeting by Conference Call.
PASSED: Contribution to Innovation Ohio.
PASSED: Contribution to Jack Conway, Candidate for Kentucky Attorney General.
SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH
Executive Board Summary: September 9-10, 2011
Our mission is to improve the lives of working people and their families
and to achieve greater social and economic justice.
Political Reports
Ohio
The unfair, job-killing, legislation known as Senate Bill 5 will be Issue 2 on
Ohio’s November Ballot. Ohio voters will have the opportunity to Vote No
on Issue 2 to repeal the union-busting legislation. The Affordable Health
Care Act is also under attack in Ohio. Issue 3 stands to kill improvements
that SEIU District 1199 members have fought to bring into law. Voting No
on Issue 3 will protect Ohioans by ensuring they have access to affordable
health care.
West Virginia
West Virginia’s Gubernatorial Election will take place in November. SEIU District 1199
will screen candidates and plan for an endorsement. Senator Joe Manchin agreed to support
a resolution to restructure the NLRB process for quicker Union elections. SEIU District
1199, with the support of other groups, successfully filed an injunction to put Huntington’s
Occupational Tax on hold. The tax is now under litigation.
Kentucky
SEIU District 1199 will screen candidates for Kentucky’s Governor, Lt. Governor, and
Secretary of State and plan endorsements. Prestonsburg, Kentucky Mayor Jerry Fannin
stood with workers at Highlands Regional Medical Center during contract negotiations.
State Senators Jerry Fannin and Walter “Doc” Blevins publicly supported workers at King’s
Daughters Medical Center.
Diversity Training
Members leaders of SEIU District 1199’s Lavender Caucus presented a diversity
training during the Executive Board Meeting. Facts and fictions of rights for the
lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual (LGBT) individuals in our workplaces
were presented to the Executive Board. It was shocking to learn the rights for
LGBT people are limited and vary from state to state. Union contracts fight
against inequalities in the workplace and protect the rights of our members.