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New Officers Needed for MNPS Chapter
There are now vacancies for both the Chief and Assistant Chief positions and per the chapter bylaws, there will be a special called election to fill these positions.
Nominations will be taken at the next chapter meeting, which will be held at the Union Hall on Monday, Sept. 13 at 5:00 pm. If you are interested in the position or if you want more information on the responsibilities, please contact SEIU’s Education & Training Coordinator Maura Lee Albert at 227-5070, ext. 23 or by
email.
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Media Covers SEIU Members Working the Polls on Election Day!
Nashville's CBS affiliate, WTVF Newschannel 5, did a story on Election Day featuring
Timothy Graves, a former lead custodian at McGavock High School who was laid off as a result of the privatization fight in Metro Schools.
Tim was never even called back in for an interview once the private company took over and that's what motivated him to go stand in 105 degree heat on Election Day to campaign.
Click
HERE to watch the story (video is available).
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SEIU Statement on the MNPS Privatization Budget
SEIU Local 205 President Doug Collier made the following statement at the MNPS Board Meeting on June 8...
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Workers and Metro Council Bash Privatization in Schools
After two days of meetings by the Metro Council, workers and elected officials bashed the School Board for their handling of this year's budget. The budget, which was approved in a 5-4 vote by the Board, proposed that nearly 700 custodians and groundskeepers be outsourced to a private company called GCA Services.
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In Metro Schools, the Fight Continues
During his State Of Metro Address, Mayor Karl Dean said that he will “fully fund” the School Board’s request of $633 million for next year’s budget. What he didn’t say, and what a lot of people don’t know, is that a “fully funded” budget does not solve the issue of outsourcing nearly 700 custodians and groundskeepers in MNPS.
It is important for SEIU members and all employees at MNPS to understand that the fight is not over yet. Custodians and groundskeepers are still on target to lose their jobs, pay, and benefits on July 1 unless we continue to fight. How can we do that?
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GCA Services: A Threat to Our Schools and Our Students?
Channel 4's Nancy Amons uncovered more about GCA Services Group. GCA is one of the contractors bidding on the custodial and groundskeeping contract and have been meeting secretly with MNPS administrators since last year to get the job. Now, WSMV learns that GCA has a bad track record with hiring its employees who clean public schools by hiring rapists, thieves, and perverts.
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Press Goes After Shady Contracting Deals at MNPS
Local media uncovered a big story this week about Dr. Jesse Register's plan to outsource custodial and groundskeeping services in Metro Schools.
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Custodians Lobby Their Council Members
Dozens of custodians and groundskeepers who work in Metro Schools flooded the Metro Council on Tuesday to meet their council member and share their concerns about the possibility of their jobs being outsourced to a private contractor.
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Dr. Register Meeting in Secret with Contractors Since Last Year
SEIU Local 205 released a series of internal emails that reveal that administrators at Metro Nashville Public Schools have been working behind closed doors to push forward a plan to privatize custodians and groundskeepers as far back as November, 2009. The union also found that Dr. Register’s statements of a $5 million dollar cost savings to the district were based on a claim made by one of the contractors who is bidding on the project, not through a scientific cost-benefit analysis or impact study.
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Custodians Testify About Privatization in Metro Schools
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Local Clergy & Employees Pray to Save Jobs
Over 120 custodians, grounds keepers, bus drivers, and concerned citizens gathered in front of the Metro Courthouse at high noon as local clergy led a Prayer Vigil in support of school employees. The gathering, which was covered by all the major local media outlets, was held as Dr. Jesse Register and the Metro School Board presented their budget to Mayor Karl Dean.
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The Human Cost of the MNPS Budget
You can’t work or live in Metropolitan Nashville without hearing about the financial crisis MNPS is facing. This is a financial crisis as well as a human crisis.
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Workers Mobilize to Stop Outsourcing
Hundreds of custodians and groundskeepers who work in Metro schools all across Davidson County poured into the Union Hall throughout the day for special-called Emergency Meetings to discuss the budget fight.
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SEIU Members Say Thank You to Jim Cooper for Healthcare Reform
At the monthly meeting of the SEIU Retiree Chapter, special guest Don Majors gave an excellent presentation on what healthcare reform means for retirees and seniors. Majors is a former Metro Councilman and now works for Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Nashville) as the congressman's point man on healthcare in the district. SEIU members also used the occasion to present a letter of thanks to Rep. Cooper on behalf of the thousands of SEIU members who live and work in TN-05.
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Hundreds Tell Metro Council: "No Outsourcing Our Jobs!"
Once again, close to 500 people turned out at a public hearing to say NO to Jesse Register's proposal to outsource custodians and cut bus drivers' pay. This meeting was held by the Metro Council's education committee thanks to a resolution that the council approved because of
the problems at the School Board's public hearing on March 11.
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School Board Votes Against Nashville's Working Families!
The Metro Nashville School Board voted by a vote of 5-4 to approve a proposed budget that, among other things, would outsource some 700 support staff jobs.
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Editorial: Revise Metro School Budget to Share Sacrifice
SEIU Local 205 president Doug Collier wrote this editorial on the MNPS budget, which appeared in Sunday's Tennessean:
The Metro School Board is set to vote on a budget proposed by schools director Jesse Register on Tuesday. Among other things, Register proposes to privatize custodial positions across the district. This was tried back in the early 90’s in Metro and the experiment was an unmitigated disaster. Schools were dirty, turnover was high, and countless thousands of dollars of Metro and private property was stolen out of our schools. This was bound to happen because privatization encourages companies with a profit motive to hire minimum wage workers with no stake in the school system. In the end, Metro ended their experimen
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A Letter to the Metro School Board
The following letter was sent to members of the Metro Nashville Public Schools board of education regarding Dr. Jesse Register's proposed budget for MNPS...
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URGENT: Rally in Support of Metro School Workers this Monday at 5:00!
Last night, the Metro Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution asking the Metro School Board to hold another public hearing on the budget since they botched the last one by not having Channel 3 there and for not having enough room to accomodate everyone. I covered all this on our blog over the last 48 hours and the
City Paper wrote about it today.
The School Board's chairman,
David Fox, has decided to ignore the Council's resolution. However,
the Metro Council is going to hold their own public hearing to make sure everyone is heard.
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SEIU & Community Partners Blast School Budget Proposal
Nearly 500 workers and concerned citizens flooded the Metro Nashville Public Schools administration building to voice their outrage at schools director Jesse Register's proposed budget.
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Metro Members Talk Convention Center, Budget With Council Lady Emily Evans
Council member Emily Evans was the guest speaker at the February meeting of Local 205's Metro chapter. Evans met with union members from Social Services, the Water Department, Metro Schools, and even a retiree to talk about the Music City Center and this year's budget cuts.
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“Music City Center” Passes: What It Means to You
A statement from Doug Collier, president of SEIU Local 205:
On Jan. 19, a majority of Metro Council members voted in favor of the Music City Center, which is expected to cost close to a billion dollars. This is bad for Metro employees and taxpayers in general for many reasons, including...
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How They Voted on the Music City Center
Voting on Metro Council resolution RS2010-1088, "approving the issuance of Tourism Tax Revenue Bonds by the Convention Center Authority of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville" related to the proposed Music City Center...
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New Leadership Elected @ SEIU MNPS!
Newly-elected Officers and Stewards were installed at the General Membership meeting held at SEIU Union Hall on November 10th, 2009.
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VICTORY! Injured Workers Get Relief Thanks to Union Action!
If you’re injured on the job and placed on injury leave by the doctor, you’ll be paid while you’re being treated and while you recover, right? Well some supervisors don’t think so.
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With H.R., the Rules Are Made to Be Broken
The MNPS H.R. Department still seems to be using the good ole boy system when it comes to how they staff our public schools. You know—the system where positions are filled according to who you know or who you’re related to, not according to seniority or experience.
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The Music City Center: What We Know Now (And It Ain't Good!)
Metro employees have gone two years without a cost-of-living increase or longevity pay, even though the cost of gas, food, and health insurance continues to skyrocket. And yet, Mayor Dean and the Chamber of Commerce continue to push forward with a new Convention Center and Hotel that they are calling the “Music City Center” without a fact-based analysis that addresses major questions about whether Nashville actually needs a new facility and who will be responsible for paying for it.
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Teresa West, Other Leaders Elected to MNPS Chapter
On Saturday, SEIU members turned out to elect officers and cluster stewards to the MNPS chapter of Local 205. Teresa West won re-election as the unit's Chief Steward. "I am grateful for all those who turned out on a Saturday to vote for me," Teresa said. "Moving our Union ahead and involving more members in the process is my goal for the next two years."
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New Member Orientation Program Begins This Saturday!
What does being in a Union mean? What are your rights and responsibilities? How is the Union structured? Why does the Union get involved in politics?
New Member Orientation is a chance for new SEIU members to get answers to these and other questions. The Orientation is held on the Second Saturday of each month in the morning. Coffee and donuts will be provided, as will your New Member Packet, your Membership Card, and a free gift.
We hope all new SEIU members attend! Please rsvp with Maura Lee Albert by calling 615-227-5070, ext. 23.
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Sarah Jones Performs @ SEIU Event on July 7!
SEIU and the Partnership for Quality Care are co-sponsoring a three city tour with Tony Award winning performer
Sarah Jones, fresh off her performance at the White House. Her next stop... Nashville!
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End of the School Year Report
Wow, has this been a busy year! If you haven’t yet come by your new Union hall, please drop by. I wish you could see where we started and where it is now. Thanks to all who gave of their time, energy and talents to help paint, remodel, clean and make our new home sparkle. This year has seemed to fly by, but there are things you need to be aware of before leaving for the summer or going to summer schedules.
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NADC Workers Win New Contract!
Just hours before their contract expired, the Bargaining Committee of SEIU's Nashville Auto Diesel College (NADC) chapter voted overwhelmingly to approve a new five-year agreement. The new agreement will result in better working conditions, better communication procedures with Management, and will increase wages to $4.50/hr over the five-year period of the contract.
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SEIU Endorses Kristine LaLonde for Metro Council
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 205 today announced its endorsement of
Kristine LaLonde for the District 18 Metro Council seat that is up for election on April 30.
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VICTORY: I.O.D. Dispute in Schools Settled
If you are a part-time Metro Schools employee, you recently received a letter from MNPS telling you that if you were injured on the job, you are not covered. As soon as your leaders got wind of this, we went to work for you.
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N.E.S. Chapter Elects New Officers
At the monthly meeting on Oct 23, the NESEA Board received a list of candidates from the Election Committee who reported that several qualified members had initially accepted nomination, with a contested race apparent for 3 of the 4 offices, but some candidates reconsidered after nominations closed resulting in a single candidate for each office.
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Cover America Now!
With media outlets from around the world focused on Nashville prior to the Presidential debate at Belmont University, hundreds of community activists and leaders converged on Legislative Plaza to focus on the need for health care reform. Attendees listened to singers and bands, to leaders from across the country and to health care stories.
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Your Union is On the Job for the New School Year
This school year has been interesting to say the least and SEIU Local 205 is hitting the ground running to make a difference for our membership.
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VICTORY: Health Department Worker Gets Justice!
Ruth Berry, an animal control officer at the Metro Health Department was terminated in a 2006 incident related to “improper and unlawful euthanization”, even though Ruth was simply assisting a doctor who was actually conducting the procedure. While the doctor was suspended for the incident, it was Ruth who was fired.
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Plan for Better Health Insurance Benefit Underway in Metro
SEIU is working with Councilmembers, the Mayor’s Office, and Metro Hospital Authority administrators to try and implement a new benefit for all Metro employees. The plan would make sure that any Metro employee who uses General Hospital for basic services would get their co-pay either waived or discounted.
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MHA Considers Outsourcing of Security Guards
At a meeting with SEIU officials several months ago, Metro Hospital Authority administrators told the Union that they are considering the possibility of outsourcing security guard functions at General Hospital. The Hospital Board approved the action and the administration is preparing to put out an RFP (Request for Procurement) to begin taking bids from security companies to do the work.
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VICTORY: Demoted Nurse Gets Justice... and Her Backpay!
Carla Nolley, an LPN at Bordeaux Long Term Care was terminated last year when she and a co-worker had an altercation on the job.
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NES Workers Turn Out in Force to Protect Their Benefits
Some 140 Nashville Electric Service (“N.E.S.”) union members swarmed Metro Council to voice their concerns about the possibility of the company’s budget being subjected to heavy scrutiny by Metro Council, which would have jeopardized union contracts and benefits.
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Hospital Authority Members Approve New Agreement
On August 7, union members from General, Bordeaux, and Knowles Home voted to accept a new Memorandum of Understanding (“M.O.U.”) that would improve employee rights and working conditions across the Metro Hospital Authority.
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Union Member Re-Elected to Metro Benefit Board!
Edna J. Jones, a member of SEIU and employee of Metro Public Works, was handily re-elected to the Benefit Board. Thanks to the efforts of SEIU members across the city, Edna received 59% of the vote in a four-person race, leading to a resounding victory for workers.
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The Metro Budget: Your Union is Ready to Fight...Are You?
Budget season is not a fun time of the year for city employees and we want you to know that Local 205 is working hard to try and help union members through a turbulent time. We’ve opened up a “Budget Hotline” for employees to let us know whether they’ve been targeted for a layoff, demotion, or reclassification. We’ve also sent out a piece of mail to all members who work in Davidson County letting them know the stakes this time and a schedule of union meetings to talk about the budget issues and how it impacts you.
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Your Union @ The Bargaining Table
SEIU and Steelworkers Local 9426 (the union for MNPS bus drivers) met to begin preparations for the upcoming contract negotiations.
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Metro General Gets Loan With Help from Union Action
Thanks to political action by your Union, a loan extension for General Hospital was approved by an overwhelming majority of the Metro Council at their meeting on Feb. 19.
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Union Action Protects Retiree Benefits!
An SEIU-backed bill passed the Metro Council on its third and final reading thanks to the hard work of union activists and retired Metro employees.
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Councilman Seeks Support for Retiree Bill
At the first meeting in 2008 of SEIU’s Metro Retiree chapter, Metro Councilman Parker Toler asked the union—and all Metro retirees—to support his bill: BL2007-101. The legislation, which Parker is co-sponsoring with Councilman Rip Ryman and others, closes a loophole in the Metro Code and protects retiree health insurance benefits.
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Fun, Food, and Festivities Bring in the New Year!
There was food, fun and festivities surrounding the swearing-in of the newly elected officers and stewards at the January meeting of the schools chapter of SEIU Local 205.
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Turnout, Excitement High at First MHA Meeting of the Year!
On January 13, the Metro Hospital Authority (MHA) chapter met to elect members to the Bargaining Team and to plot the course for the chapter in 2008. This chapter meeting had a large turnout and the enthusiasm was high in moving the union forward. “For the first time in a long time, people are really excited about the union again,” said Trista Boseman, activity director at Knowles Home and an SEIU member activist. “It’s a new year and I think workers are ready to take the next step forward by getting involved in politics, in bargaining, and in building the union in 2008”.
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Bargaining Team Elected for MAC Chapter
SEIU members in the MAC chapter voted on a slate for the 2008 Bargaining Team.
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Teresa West Elected New Chief Steward of MNPS Chapter!
Teresa West from Hunters Lane Elementary was elected as the Chief Union Steward for the MNPS chapter on Nov. 5. Teresa had recently been serving as the chapter Treasurer and has served as the chapter’s Chief Steward several years ago. She brings her years of experience in union activism to the table as SEIU members prepare for bargaining. Teresa takes office at the beginning of 2008.
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VICTORY: Union Action Stops Management Cronyism!
Union members in the Metro Schools chapter discovered a hiring controversy and swiftly acted to stop it.
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EFCA Resolution Passes Metro Council!
SEIU took on one of its last political initiatives of the year by urging the Metro Council to pass a resolution in support of the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “EFCA”. The council resolution, 2007-76, is intended to send a signal to Davidson County’s state and federal lawmakers that workers have the right to organize and to be free from employer intimidation.
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First “Time To Talk” meetings get Feedback and Results!
On Oct. 17 and 18, your union steward Trista Boseman (along with union staff) met with over 50 workers to talk about what’s happening in all three Hospital Authority worksites. Those meetings were only the first in a series of “Time To Talk” sessions that your Union will be holding on a monthly basis. The purpose of those meetings is to improve the line of communications between the Local and your workplace. We also want to hear about problems and issues that you are facing on a daily basis. In fact, thanks to your feedback, the Union was able to address a couple of important issues that you cared about.
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Nurses Add Their Strength Going Into ‘08 Bargaining
Next spring, your Union will begin negotiations with the Hospital Authority on the Memorandum of Agreements (“M.O.U.”), policies and procedures, the payplan and other conditions of employment in BLTC, MNGH, and Knowles Home.
This year promises to be bigger than ever as SEIU bargains for registered nurses for the first time. “This is a big step for R.N.’s in the city hospitals,” says Doug Collier, Local 205’s Director. “We’re excited that nurses will have a seat at the table alongside the rest of their Union brothers and sisters in the Hospital Authority to make sure that their issues are addressed”.
Stay tuned for more information on how you can be on your Union’s Bargaining Committee, which will be forming early next year.
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Workers Win in 2007 Nashville Elections!
SEIU had a successful election night as 8 candidates of the 12 we endorsed won their races on Sept. 11. Congratulations to the council At-Large members we endorsed: Megan Barry, Jerry Maynard, Ronnie Steine, and to our endorsed candidates in the districts - Lonnell Matthews, Darren Jernigan, Anna Page, Edith Taylor Langster, and Jason Holleman.
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VICTORY: Member Action Stops Pay Cut in Metro Schools!
During the summer days controversy in late August, Management tried to cut the pay of food service workers in half. This would have meant money not going into our members' pocket! But when SEIU members told their stewards about this proposed pay cut, union leaders acted quickly. Working with Management, the issue was resolved and all food service workers will get a full week’s pay.
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Clyde Smith WINS!
Your Union co-worker and Local 205's endorsed candidate, Clyde Smith won re-election to the Metro Benefit Board in one of the highest turnout Board races in years.
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SEIU "Trash Talks" at Metro School Board Action!
After the Metro School Board's proposal to cut some 100 custodial and 40 teacher jobs, SEIU, Jobs With Justice, and Stand for Children held a rally and press conference at the board's office on Monday.
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VICTORY: Contract Signed With Meharry!
After over a year and a half of struggle, SEIU completed negotiations with Meharry Medical College in Nashville, signing a five-year contract that gives union-covered employees new benefits...
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Local 205 Members Get Nashville Up and Running After the Flood
When massive flooding enveloped Nashville in early May, it was public employees who were the first line of defense. Whether it was linemen at NES, engineers at Metro Water, or truck crews at Public Works, SEIU members went above and beyond to get Nashville through one of the worst crises in its history.