Principles
REPRESENTATION COMES FIRST: We will ensure Member representation is the first priority. Local 1021 has seen a revolving door of Union staff with no consistency in representation. Staff’s first responsibility will be to train and mentor Chapter officers and Stewards.
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY: The resources of the Local belong to the Members. Our dues go up while representation goes down. We will establish financial accountability by opening the books and encouraging a real debate on how our dues money is spent.
DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY: Members pay the dues, members get to decide. Our Union must be democratic and accountable. No more secrecy, appointed leaders, forced mergers or trusteeships. All Union business needs to be conducted in the open. We need democratic by-laws and an Executive Board that is not a rubber stamp.
REBUILDING 1021 FROM THE BOTTOM UP: A strong, democratic and effective Union is build on a solid foundation of Stewards and Chapters. Stewards and Chapter officers are the life blood and most important leaders in the Union. We will prioritize training, education and mentoring of our front line Stewards and Chapter officers.
ORGANIZING NOT RAIDING: There is no security in only organizing one workplace, one company, one municipality or one non-profit. If organizing does not keep spreading, union wages, benefits and conditions will die. SEIU is spending tens of millions or our dues dollars to fight other Unions in order to represent workers who already belong to a Union! We will not spend a penny to raid or attack other Unions. Our Local’s resources are precious and must be used to organize workers who do not already belong to a Union who do not enjoy the benefits of a Union contract.
COMMUNICATION AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION: 1021 Members need timely information and better communication. We will foster increased communication between Chapters, industries and bargaining units. The most effective means of communication is face to face. We will require staff and officers to regularly visit work sites.
EQUALITY: Employers use differences in age, sex, race, national origin and sexual orientation to divide us. 1021 must fight discrimination and defend the rights of ALL its Members. Decisions will be made on the basis of One Member, One Vote.
SOLIDARITY: We must re-unite and re-build the Labor Movement. We pledge to promote solidarity and build coalitions with other unions, labor organizations, community organizations and those who use public services and non-profit agencies. We must emphasize our common interests. 1021 must fight for adequate funding for public services and must advocate for the communities we serve.
DEFEND OUR CONTRACTS AND PROTECT OUR FUTURE: 1021 Members have been hit hard by the recession. Before the merger Members were promised that a bigger Local would be stronger and better. Three years later, we find our Local weak, dysfunctional and in disarray. Our Local could be so much more effective; we have the talent and we have the resources. What we lack is the leadership. ‘Change 1021’ will implement a strategic plan to address the budget crisis, to stop the layoff and to resist concessions. You work hard for your pay and benefits. You deserve a Union that will stand up for you!
RESTORE THE PRIDE: We used to be proud to be known as Members of SEIU. We had some of the best contracts in the country. Our Union was the Union of Social Justice, and we were organizing and growing. Today, many of us are embarrassed by the corruption, the union raiding and we suffer under inferior and unenforced contracts.
WE WILL WORK TO RESTORE THE PURLE PRIDE.
JOIN US TO ‘CHANGE 1021’ TO BECOME A UNION OF, BY AND FOR THE MEMBERS.
