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OR Union Gets Big Membership Boost

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Monday, June 6, 2011   

PORTLAND, Ore. - There's a new group of Oregon union members: People who provide care for Oregonians of all ages with mental and developmental disabilities. They have voted to join the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 503, and will soon bargain for their first contract with the state.

Carol Conlon, Grants Pass, is among those who voted to join. As primary caregiver for a 31-year-old autistic son, Conlon says she had no idea there were more than 7500 other people like her around the state. She sees union membership as a way to improve care-giving practices, as well as raising public awareness of what she says is often a tough and isolating job.

"They are so professional, and they have so much expertise in so many areas; you know, legal, accounting, politics, et cetera. Many of the caregivers are financially disadvantaged, and it's an absolute victory for the work we've been doing."

Some 10,000 in-home care workers in Oregon are already SEIU members, but they work with seniors and people with physical disabilities. The vote adds almost 8000 more new members. Conlon thinks it's a matter of fairness that the state considers all its care providers and clients equal, no matter what type of disability they are dealing with.

She also sees it as a civil rights issue, allowing care providers to advocate for their clients and work toward improving the state system. She says that has been difficult to do because care-giving jobs are demanding, and often low-wage, work.

"We want to make it a win-win for the state, because we can care for these clients in the home at far less cost, and still give quality care. But we've been given crumbs out of the budget, and we can't do it on nothing."

The group of new union members has its first meeting later this month to formulate proposals for negotiating its first contract.



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