Our Pledge
We the undersigned SEIU 521 Reform Team candidates and supporters hereby adopt the following SEIU 521Reform Platform, “a set of principles to lead by example, to reform our Local and take it back for the dues-paying members. As member leaders, we pledge to prioritize these principles:
Decisions by Member Vote
A democratic union is a healthy union. Active member participation will be invited and welcome at all Union meetings. All Union business will be conducted in open session. Members pay dues-members decide.
Smart Contract Negotiations
Our compensation and strength suffers when the union agrees to weak contract language. Member benefits should not be subject to “shady” or back door deals.
Communication & Access to Information
Members must be given reasonable advance notice of the time and place of all union meetings and events. The purpose and significance of meetings and union Board actions must be made clear to the members in advance. When members have questions or need information, it is the responsibility of the union leadership to make sure they get timely answers. Accurate and intelligible schedules, agendas, minutes and financial information must be available to all members upon request and members should actively be encouraged to request such information. We pledge to work hard to get all information into the hands of the members timely!
Open Debate, Respect and Fair Treatment
Our members are never going to agree on everything. But differences of opinion must be tolerated and respected. A healthy organization learns and grows from differences of opinion.
We pledge to ensure our members are not demonized, exiled or shunned for disagreeing with Union Leaders. Rank and file dues-paying members will be welcomed and appreciated in their Union Hall and the Local. We will not tolerate disrespect, intimidation, put-downs or threats against our members for expressing their free speech rights. A threat to one is a threat to all!
Member Involvement
Rank-and-file leadership must be encouraged and honored. The current leadership has been appointed by the International with no consideration to the needs of the entire membership. Unilateral decisions about who may be involved from the rank and file have been in the hands of one person whose decisions are made based on a perception of threat to her position. This must stop. This is not acceptable in any democratic organization let alone one where our money is being used to purposes we have no input to. We pledge to provide our members with the opportunities to participate at all levels in the Union and all decision making processes.
Transparency & Integrity
Members pay thousands of dues each month. This Local has a budget of approximately 20 million dollars. Rank and file participation has been discouraged in the decision making process of this Local. Members who have volunteered to participate have been shunned and criticized for challenging where our money goes. All program decisions and all financial decisions will be reported to the members. All union contract negotiating will be done with the rank and file leaders. Management Staff will no longer be allowed to meet with our employers of record and work out sweetheart back door negotiations.
Accountability
When Local Officers fail to act in the members’ interests, they must be held accountable. No impunity for leaders who ignore their fiduciary responsibilities to the membership. We pledge that union members will finally have a full accountability as to how their union dues are spent. These decisions will no longer be in the hands of one person. We further pledge to live within our means. If we don’t have the money for a program or project, we will not put ourselves in financial jeopardy as we currently are. We will encourage participation of the rank and file to participate in the financial decision making of this union.
Neutrality & Accountability of Executive Union Staff
It is the job of the Local and its Executive Staff to make sure that all members are represented fairly. Each Staff Director should advise members and provide accurate information as to their rights and responsibilities, but should be impartial in all member disputes. Staff Directors should be subject to yearly performance reviews involving significant rank-and file member direction.
Rank and file union staff shall be treated fairly and respectfully by the Executive Staff at all times.
Clean, Fair Elections & Governance
Elections should be conducted with impartial oversight and strong rank-and-file member involvement. Election Committee members should not be appointed by candidates as they currently are. These must be member driven decisions. All members should have equal access to information and union resources, to the extent provided by the law. We pledge that we will provide as wide accessibility for members to vote including absentee balloting which is not allowed now.
Solidarity Among Chapters/Regions/Industry Councils
Since we all belong to the same union, we pledge that we will actively promote constructive working relationships among Chapter/Regions/Industry Councils and collaborate on mutually agreed upon terms to win the best possible contracts for all SEIU members. We also pledge to vigorously pursue the development of Industry Councils so that more members can participate in the decisions of our union.
Adopted on this 10th day of January, 2010