Friday, October 31, 2008

Obama Will Win

Obama will win. Here is why

Pundits and Blogs have a million well thought our reasons why one candidate or the other will win. As for the arguments of the right, younger voters do not remember the term “the silent majority” a vast invisible electorate who supposedly approved of killing tens of thousands of Vietnamese.

John McCain will win because the quiet religious voter will stand against gay marriage in California. John McCain will win because according to his own campaign Americans are closet racists and will vote for him because he is not black.

Barack Obama will confiscate all guns.

I am a gun owner. I shoot, I would love to have the $200.00 for a an Alcohol Tobacco background test to own an automatic weapon. Then I would only need to win the lottery in order to take my fully automatic weapon to range.

John Kerry would have won against George Bush if he had not attempted to destroy the second amendment. Barack Obama is not an ignorant liberal. He is not a “liberal regardless of cost” politician. I think the NRA (I belong) will have to eat its words on this Democrat.

Barack Obama will be the next president.

Why?

Obama’s supporters believe the cost of loss is too high to bear and will get out and vote.

Obama supporters are aware and motivated Obama supporters don’t see their vote as the weary, defensive choice of the lesser of two evils, but as the chance to create a better future.

Obama planned ahead and can’t be beat on his ground game.

Obama’s neighborhood campaign is better than any Democratic candidate has ever run. His attraction is personal, and deep. He is not using Unions, and other interest groups, instead he has been recognized as the candidate that represents the middle class. He knows who we are and has proved it by his use of the net, e-mail, and social networking. leaving McCain’s staff looking bewildered.

Depth and Width of support.

Regan Democrats who want a better life for everyone. Republicans were lied to or given incompetent candidates will stay home because they can not support a candidate who has no ideas left and only runs against his opponent.

Obama’s, millions of dollars from small donors allowed him to get the message out on radio, TV and the internet.

Name Amnesia.

I knew John McCain, and you are no John Mcain. No one recognizes McCain any more.

If the torture and the Vietnamese could not break John McCain how could Carl Rove and the worst of the Republican Party?

The driver of the straight talk express left the command seat and let the out of control radical base that does not truly represent the real American values become the driving force behind almost all of the hijacked Republican Party

In 2000 John McCain earned respect . In 2000 Idid not agree with him but I thought he was running for what he believed in.

The disasta from Alaska.

McCain wanted to run with a VP that truly reflected his “reach across the aisle” philosophy but the desperation and lack of leadership shown by McCain when he lsot control when his supporters “refused” to allow him to make his own choice for VP destroyed his image as a leader. His decision to accept Palin was a major reason that his image tarnished. Giving in to the radical right was the first real time both desperation and a willing to sell out were so obvious.

The choice of Sarah Palin was a major reason given by Colin Powell and several conservative writers and newspapers as a reason to support Obama.

Obama looks like the man you wanted to be President.

Cool, aware, calm, and focused. Obama had set a direction and stayed with it during his whole campaign. Americans respect a leader. McCain looked like an angry, frustrated, also ran when his supporters wanted to see a real take charge leader.

The unprecedented discipline and the high road taken by the Obama campaign showed his leadership skills. Obama could have struck back angrily with the story of McCain’s campaign co-chair Rick Renzi, appointed to be co-chair of McCains campaign while he was under indictment, but he stayed cool and unruffled. Renzi was indicted in February and facing trial but the Obama campaign did not stoop to guilt by association The Obama campaign discussed the issues. You did not hear that one of McCain’s good friends G. Gordon Liddy, urged his radio listeners to "go for a head shot" if federal agents came to take their guns away” Liddy provided the Obama campaign cheap shot the candidate refused to take. Liddy could have been easy, free, air time, but Obama kept cool and stuck with his message of “change”, while McCain kept zig zagging and changing messages let Obama easily do a far better job of looking presidential than the twitchy, elderly, frail looking, McCain.

George Bush’s ghost haunted McCain every step.

McCain couldn’t run fast enough to get away from George Bush. No matter what he did the facts kept haunting him. He had supported Bush for eight wrong years.

No bad news for Obama, bad news for McCain

Things stayed quiet thisl year on the terror and national security fronts.

The economy tanked. McCain had depended on his warrior status to propel him to the Whitehouse while Americans cried "Save me". Instead McCain’s obvious weakness in economics when Americans couldn’t buy gas and were losing their homes to executives floating down o golden parachutes damaged his tax cut appeal.

I respect John McCain for who he was and what he did.

I am sad that I can only feel pity for a fallen hero, rather than pride. McCain earned his right to stand proudly before America and ask for support. It is so sad that his party destroyed this heroes chance in 2000 when he stood on principle. It is even more sad when the fallen heroes desperation leads him to betray his own ideals.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Bargaining Update

There is not a lot of news but what is there is good. The Union is preparing the paperwork needed to officially start bargaining.

By law we have to seek the State's permission and notify them of our intent. On the practical side we need to notify them as that is the means for team members to receive administrative time to prepare for bargaining.

The intent is for our teams to get together prior to meeting with the State in order to discuss issues and share information with each other. Many of your team members have been calling and emailing on their own time already in order to prepare.

Proposals are being collected and once the teams are able to meet formally will be studied for the best approaches to meet your requests. This is looking to be an extremely challenging session of bargaining, but the teams are ready for it, they volunteered knowing how much time and effort it it will take.

There is a lot of preparation already being done by members of the teams. Once we can get together and find out what the member priorities are we will be in a position to go forward in unity.

I know this isn't much but some things can only be discussed with team members and are not for the open web. You will never see any discussion of priorities or strategy on this site. The State will never find out we have decided to give up our demand for free donuts on Mondays in return for free BLTs and cookies on Friday. Even though some members were tempted by the one time offer of a box of kittens, we turned it down.

It may not look like it but we are way ahead of where we have ever been at this point before and we have a new level of member involvement. We are going to have excellent guidance, with new ideas, and a thorough knowledge of bargaining mixed with a great respect for our members.

Our new chief negotiator is no babe in the woods and has seen it all before. Rod Hiltz respects our members and brings a varied set of experiences and an impressive resume of labor involvement. His experiences may very well be unique to our Union and he brings valuable skills that can only help us all.

We are going to have a professional, experienced chief negotiator, and dedicated teams with a valuable mix of both experience and new ideas. As good a line up as you will have there are things only you will be able to give them......Your support and your ideas. Please give them your support. Give them your ideas. We will do our best together, in Union.

Enter your Email

Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

If you cut the budget, the dog dies.

In the opening salvo of vicious government infighting, the Governor announced threats to cut positions in the courts, and the elimination of programs.

Do you think it is really your job that will be cut?

AUGUSTA, Maine: The governor announced that proposals to cut hundreds of state jobs and existing programs have been put on his desk. If the agencies are forced to meet the goal of at least a 10 percent cut in the coming two-year budget there will be cuts.

"We don't know where", the Gov. said he won't know where or what until projected revenues are studied.

This is projected to lead to the usual infighting between departments in a vicious struggle to maintain upper management staff at the expense of public programs and employees serving the public.

Baldacci ordered, each state department to present a plan to reduce their budgets (spending) to meet the projected revenue.

The Governor has announced the usual "Scare the Public" cuts. He has suggested that there will be a need to cut

Up to 10 courthouses.

50 court employees.

16 state prosecutors.

80 faculty and staff positions in the community colleges.

Multiple community college programs.

1800 less students.

24 state troopers, four detectives and 10 game wardens.

The Governor stated these were not his ideas but the suggestions from the affected agencies. The agencies seem to be trying the usual, crying that i"Cut my budget and you won't have the courts or the cops. Cut my budgert and you will be destroying education.

Paraphrasing statements by Finance Commissioner Ryan Low said in a real CYA statement "These are not the Governor's ideas, the agencies made these suggestions".

When you have to wait four hours to renew your license, or a hunting license takes six months to process due to lack of staff the governor will say "Not me". He is letting his commissioners fight the battle rather than make the decisions that will best serve the public.

Any pet agency that can not meet the goal will expect another agency to make up the slack and take a ten, twenty or thirty percent cut in order to protect some commissioners job.

The Goal for DHHS is $400 million, made up of a $200 million increase requested this year and a $200 million cut demanded by the Governor. If we follow past history they will cut services as they cut funding to foster and adoptive children, while hiring additional management. If you know someone that needs services they can expect a cut, but at least they will be funding additional high paid positions at DHHS>

Don't expect significant cuts to the outgo, because a big revenue generator in the DHHS, MaineCare, the state’s version of Medicaid, probably won't be touched. Each state dollar cut means a loss of two federal dollars .

In a "The world will collapse message" the courts said that to cut $11.9 million in two years would cause the closing of up to 10 courthouses.

The courts also said that closing courts would cost the state nearly $5 million a year. What, they won't fine me for speeding?

UMaine, after ignoring both the hiring ban and the travel ban in the last budget had not responded by Tuesday to the Governors request for a $20 million cut from their annual $200 million dollars.

The Community college system said a $5.4 million per year cut would mean the elimination of numerous and 80 faculty and staff positions. They said they would also have to cut enrollment by 1,800 students.

A number of the positions targeted for elimination arre currently vacant, and while this would mean additional workloads on remaining employees no concern has for employees has been expressed by the state. More importantly no complaints about the increased workload have been expressed by the employees, except as it affects services to the public.

Lawyer jokes aside, Attorney General Steven Rowe stated that that to cut $3.3 form his office's budget it would mean slashing seven assistant attorney general positions and nine assistant district attorneys.

The Department of Corrections being asked for a $32.5 million cut said the cuts meant a "downsizing and restructuring of correctional facilities". The department never mentioned the ballooning budget the state faces for outsoucing medical services at the DOC that had been, and could be performed more cost effectively by State employees. Outsourcing state jobs seems to be off the table when keeping them could save money.

The DOC, like the other agencies said meeting the proposed cuts will mean closing facilities, meaning that if you cut their budget they will be forced to let the criminals loose. Are you scared enough yet?

Unspecified law enforcement activities would be cut under the budget suggestions submitted and we will all be robbed and become drug addicts inside of six months.

The Golden Calf was threatened. The Maine State Police could cut 24 trooper jobs and four detectives. It also would cut funds for units ilike the canine teams. ( Can you just see the poor German Shepard begging on the street?).

Threatened cuts have been leveled at the Department of Marine Resources, and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Bears will kill you in Portland and raccoons will attack your neighbors if you take these cuts.

It is expected that when the Governor receives the next projected revenue figures he will use his emergency powers to cut spending until the Legislature is forced to deal with this years budget in January.

If you work for the state and do a productive job that serves the public and saves money for the taxpayers I would be very worried.

Enter your Email

Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

Monday, October 27, 2008

John McCain sworn in, suffers stroke, Palin takes office

John McCain wins!
This seems like a slimmer and slimmer chance. McCain's only real hope is for Democrats to think they have won. We need every vote; we need every phone banker, every lawn sign, and every volunteer.

Make no mistake voter suppression has not gone away. I don't believe in an organized campaign but I do believe in hundreds of Republicans without honor, each seeing themselves as history makers by just knocking off a few Democratic votes. We need every vote, every voter, we won't be over confident, we can't stay home. Why will the Democrats win? Because the headline saying John McCain wins is just too bad to contemplate.

Can you see your campaign flashing before your eyes, John? Time is running short, the past few months must be flashing by quickly.

While I hope for an Obama-Biden landslide, to save the country and thousands more lives, and for the joy of seeing the crying and howling of talk show pundits, the babbling confusion of the right wing nuts, and the payback for the opportunistic "Democrats" like Joe Lieberman who has enjoyed a an undeserved position of power for years.

I am proud to be labeled an Obama maniac and proud to stand with Obama-Biden. With enough new seats in Congress an Obama Presidency will mean a more caring government. Make no mistake, some programs will be cut. The first program to be cut will be the "No Billionaire left behind" program.

Hopefully Billionaires will be given the same "opportunity" that Bush gave the middle class...none. With no extra favors they will be forced to pull themselves up by their thousand dollar boot straps and sink or swim based on talent and skill rather than tax breaks and corporate welfare.

Under a President Obama nations abroad will see a unified United States and perhaps we will face fewer enemies abroad.

There will be no Jack in the Box miracles. Four years may not be enough to completely cure the damage eight years of neglect and incompetence have done to the U.S. but I am hopeful that President Obama will keep his promises, foreign policy, arguably the most important.

At the worst the risk of damage to our country is far less than when thinking about a "stay the course" McCain-Palin administration flushing the country directly down the the septic system. The many endorsements of Obama like Colin Powell and many ex-Republicans have strengthened the hope believers in the American election process that this time the winner of the election will be sworn in the following January, but no one I know is willing to stay home on election day.

We are hoping but we won't make the mistake of sitting back and coasting. The fear of another Diebold election, another Florida, and even worse a Bush appointed Supreme Court deciding the next election mixed with the current reports of voter suppression aimed at Democrats in 2008 doesn’t leave any room for smugness.

Joe Klein of Time magazine says Obama "seems a grown-up, in a nation that badly needs some adult supervision." It is not the citizens that need or even want supervision, it is the spoiled brats like Dick Cheney "a new branch of government" Cheney that need to be made to stop treating our government and our Constitution like one of their toys to be broken when they are mad or ignored when inconvenient.

Almost single handedly Obama organized the best campaign anyone has seen in decades with the help of numbers of volunteers not seen in thirty or forty years.

Quoting the New York Times "After nearly two years of a grueling and ugly campaign, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois has proved that he is the right choice to be the 44th president of the United States.", "Mr. Obama has met challenge after challenge, growing as a leader and putting real flesh on his early promises of hope and change."

Barack Obama has run a disciplined and amazingly effective political and electoral machine. He beat Hillary Clinton, no amateur; he appears to be beating John McClain. Is this discipline and focus proof of the ability to be president? John McCain has been in Washington for twenty six years. Is his campaign filled with flip flops and venom, not to mention Sarah Palin, proof of the ability to be president?

We hear about Obama changing his position on withdrawal. The complaints about Obama changing his position show us that Republican don't change their mind regardless of the facts and a changing world. if Barack Obama had his way, there would never have been a war in Iraq. No war, no lost war. No dead troops.

The right tries to make a negative of Obamas coolness under attack, as if self control is a negative and shouting "bring it on!" is the American way. Self control will be needed if and when U.S. interests are threatened and then self control will be an asset to the nation, but Obama will not feel the need to create false attacks on the U.S. in order to win an unneeded war.

John McCain didn't turn away, he didn’t shirk what he saw as his duty. He feels he must win the war at any cost. He sees this as his duty. It is a shame that a man who may be called a Patriot can also be a man with no vision, and if the ability to end a war based on lies is considered a weakness then I pity John McCain.

A soldier told McCain after a speech in Woodbridge, Virginia, after giving McCain his Purple Heart, "we want you to keep your promise to bring us home in victory and honor, so it will mean something. " Not putting that soldier in a war based on lies would have meant more to America and more to the mothers of four thousand dead..

That decision would have taken true bravery and Barack Obama showed that bravery in his vote against the war. I know that Barack Obama will be more responsible regarding Iraq and foreign affairs as president than John McCain has been as a senator. He opposed the war, he opposed the surge that is the pride of the right but he alone can not pull one hundred fifty thousand soldiers out of a war created over the last six years without caring for those troops.

Barack Obama did not create this war, but he will do what is needed to protect our troops, and he will be forced to work with what is, not with how it would have been without George Bush.

When dealing with foreign threats, he will follow his beliefs and protect America while gaining back the respect we have lost in the world. He will not say "Bring it on!" yet if he must enter us into a conflict I trust him to win it for us.

Enter your Email Receive an Email When New Posts Are UP.

Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

Sunday, October 26, 2008

The NextRight

Are you feeling confident about an Obama win? Are you feeling Depressed about an Obama win?

I talked with a Republican MSEA member recently and they complained that their side was not getting enough coverage and no one told the truth about their goals. I did my research and I think I found a site that will make our Republican brothers and sisters happy. I found it funny that the first article I ran into was a criticism of Unions.

The NextRight Blog should be a lesson to both Democrats and Republicans. If you are feeling confident about an Obama win, read this blog and realize that the R party is not made of 100% Sarah Palin clones and if the Republican leadership ever listens to the intelligent members the Democrats will be in a real battle.

If you are feeling depressed about an Obama win it is because the R party has gotten a reputation of hating science and intelligence, calling anyone able to put more than two syllables in a word an "Elite". You have damned the thoughtful approach to go with "gut feelings" not smarts.

Here is a short take from a much larger article at one the scariest (to me) well written righty blogs I have seen. Follow the link for the rest of the story.

Public Employee Pensions ask for bailout: An opportunity within the disaster

by Soren Dayton | October 26, 2008 at 8:33 AM

Earlier this week, an extraordinary story hit. CALPERS, the California Public Employee Retirement System, announced that it took a HUGE hit. From the WSJ:

The California Public Employees' Retirement System, known as Calpers, said its assets have declined by more than 20%, or at least $48 billion, from the end of June through Oct. 10.

Fort the rest of the story go to The next Right blog

The link above takes you to the rest of this story. For my friends on the left, read it, this is how you are seen by the right. Public Service is not seen as deserving any payback. Twenty or more years earning less for your work and the right would break that promise of a secure retirement in the same way the Republicans gave us the CLIFF here in Maine.

If your job depends on State funding in any way and you don't vote a Democratic ticket you are asking, no begging to lose your job, your benefits, and your retirement.

Enter your Email

Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

Friday, October 24, 2008

Attack on McCain supporter FAKE

Woman admits making up attack linked to McCain bumper sticker.

Police said Texas the woman has admitted to faking the report about the assault.
The woman had told police a man robbed and beat her after seeing a McCain sticker on her car.
She said the man kicked and punched her and carved a B into her cheek with a knife.

Today the woman admitted she made up the report, the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, assistant police chief said Friday.

Her original statement said a man (big scary black man) approached her Wednesday night at an ATM in Pittsburgh's East End, put a knife to her throat and demanded money, Pittsburgh Police said.
She said she gave him $60 and stepped away from him police reported.

She further said the man "punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground, and continued to punch and kick her, threatening to teach her a lesson for being a McCain supporter".

The woman told police her attacker "called her a lot of names and stated that 'You are going to be a Barack supporter,' at which time she said he sat on her chest, pinning both her hands down with his knees, and scratched into her face a backward letter 'B' on the right side of her face using what she believed to be a very dull knife."

McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said that McCain and running mate Sarah Palin"spoke to the victim and her family after learning about the incident."

Sure goes a long way to McCain's and Palin's Character judgment. I just hope I hear that Limbaugh and Hannity were making an issue of the "insane, black. Obama supporter".

Enter your Email

Preview Powered by FeedBlitz

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Pro-Tech Bargaining Unit Shuffle

The Pro-Tech bargaining unit this year faces the toughest bargaining in years and is losing one of the most experienced members. Sharon Carroll, President of Penobscot chapter, Chief steward, and a veteran of twenty years of contract talks today announced her resignation from this years team. Sharon had planned on giving her experience and her drive to another round of contract talks when life got in the way.

Due to personal reasons Sharon can not give her full attention to bargaining this year and she refuses to be only a part time member.

Sharon says "If you can't promise to be there every minute and make bargaining your first priority, you should step aside". Sharon resigned today, but she will be on the Contract Action Team, and she offered her help to any member of the negotiations team if needed. Sharon's years of experience with the State have been invaluable over the years. During the last three contracts Sharon was elected team leader because she knew how to work with her own team and how to work with all the other bargaining unit teams.

Sharon, we will all miss you.

Professional Technical Services

The members of the Pro-Tech team will be

Tom Maher-------------Returning member Elected at large

Andrea Lapointe------Returning member

Jerry Quirion----------New member and ready to go!

Ron Perry - Alternate, next in line for the team. I hope Ron will accept the position on the pro-tech team.

We will all need your support, every team, all bargaining units. I want to send out a personal thanks to all the members of OIT, employees at Dorothea Dix, DOL in Bangor, DMVs all over the state, and every agency I don't have room to list for all of the energy you have put into getting meetings together, petitions circulated and more. We are all the Union and we are stronger together.

Thanks,

Tom Maher

Comments on this blog can be emailed to Narsbars@UnionMaine.Org
Enter your Email

Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

Monday, October 20, 2008

Big Union Win for SEIU in Oregon

First in the Nation!

Oregon workers sign Historic Adult Foster Care Agreement

Adult foster home care providers represented by Local 503 of the SEIU negotiated a first in the Nation agreement with the State of Oregon.
The settlement, reached after seven months of bargaining, covers about 2,000 professional providers who care for up to five clients as well as 1,500 individuals who care for relatives in the Medicaid-funded adult foster care program.

The program is seen as efficient, (meaning it saves money for the State) and humane, providing a lower-cost and more personal alternative to institutional care.
Editor: In so many cases over and over the Unions prove that Union labor is less expensive and more efficient than huge for profit corporations. It would seem that someone should notice. In Maine we are looking for any information about contracting out that could be done more efficiently by State employees. If you have any ideas send them to NarsBars@UnionMaine.Org

The agreement follows legislation signed in July 2007 recognizing the providers' right to organize, executive orders signed by the Governor certifying SEIU 503 as bargaining agent for both groups of providers after majorities signed cards in support of representation by the local, and funding voted by legislators in a special session in February 2008.

Without the increases some providers said they could no longer afford to stay in the program. "Since 2007, we have banded together as a union, speaking out with one voice for dignity-for ourselves and for our residents," the committee wrote to adult foster care providers. "Instead of facing decisions thrust upon us, now we can be decision makers. We are not alone now, but standing together, working together to improve standards of care for our residents and improve our own quality of life."

If approved the agreement gives a $260 per client per month increase in service fees, plus a 2.1% cost of living increase.The union also won a new training program, a grievance procedure, and a provision for pre-placement planning, ensuring providers appropriate information before clients are placed in their homes. In March New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed an executive order making New Jersey the second state to recognize an adult foster home care providers union.Negotiations are under way there.

How about making Maine the third State to recognize Adult Foster Home Care Providers?

Discuss this post here or start your own thread at http://unionmaine.informe.com/

Enter your Email for updates

Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Union members want to know

“Why does the Union get involved with politics?”

First a quick note: The MSEA-SEIU convention is on Friday and Saturday October 17 and 18. There will most likely be some dues increase. Before you yell, ask yourself how involved you have been, how much you know about your own Union. The elected delegates will make the best decision they can (I am one) based on what they feel does the most good for the largest number.

There will be an open discussion on dues increases at http://unionmaine.informe.com/

Please remember this is not a Union supported blog.

Every time the MSEA-SEIU endorses a candidate for Federal, or State office some members ask “Why does the Union get involved in politics?” Remember our original name, Maine State Employees Association and think about who votes for you to get a raise or for you to lose your job. Elected State officials have a direct impact on the wages, benefits and working conditions of Local 1989 workers.

Why does the Union only endorse Democrats?

The MSEA does not endorse only from one party, we support political leaders who support Union workers.There are no shadow SEIU bosses telling us who to endorse. The decisions are made by your elected board members. You elect the people that make the decisions.

The Union does not control how candidates answer questions. As a Union our priority must be our members. The governor sets the budget and appoints the top officials in charge of most agencies where we work, as well as the State's contract negotiations team, which negotiates our contract. No matter how the contract talks turn out, in order to have a contract, the Legislature must pass a bill that is then signed by the governor.

When election time comes, do we want to see officials who will try to cut our wages and our jobs? Do you want to be a political football?

We need to elect house and senate members that value Union employees and the services we provide. But we also need to defeat elected officials who don’t support labor and aren't willing to pass a budget that funds the services we provide to keep Maine healthy, safe and strong.

Some politicians don’t like it that thousands of working people can band together and make a difference in political races, so in 2008 during the worst economy in seventy years we must remain aware that we are a target but also that we have the power to help elect state officials who will support a reasonable contract that preserves our benefits and retirement security.

Elected officials will decide your future and this is why Local 1989 supports candidates on the Federal and local levels. Only by electing Union friendly candidates can we win a fair contract.

How do we do that?

Local 1989 members are making calls and knocking on doors in an effort to elect state worker-friendly candidates. Remember that when you get your third call from a Union volunteer, they are working for you. Take a minute to talk. They are emailing and calling their legislators to tell them how they feel and remind them that we vote. You can make a difference just by getting the word out about Union endorsed candidates. Help educate your friends and neighbors so they will elect a labor friendly legislature.
Only by working together can we win a fair contract and get the Legislature on our side.

Local 1989 is building a member-based political program that holds legislators accountable and creates power for working people. The real focus is not Democrat vs. Republican; it is a positive focus on issues that have an impact on Maine’s unionized workforce in local 1989.

Legislation mandates how we do our jobs, how much we are paid, and whether we even have a job so it’s important to elect office holders that will support and stand behind our union.

As a historic election draws near, members throughout the state will continue phone banking and walking to ensure a state worker-friendly Legislature when the new session begins in January.

Get email updates by Entering you Email Address Click the button below and sign up!

Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Negotiation Team Members Elected for Executive Branch C.A.T. members wanted.

Bruce Hodsdon notified the new members of the Executive Branch Bargaining teams of their selection today. Now we have to get on to the job we were elected for-----representing you.

Please give the members of all the teams your support, your ideas, and join the Contract Action Team.
Don't ask how a contract came about, join the team and help make this your contract.

Over half of the team members are new and they will be fitting new skills, and new ideas into the team. Each new member will bring fresh ideas, different view points, and skills.

Your experienced members bring years of experience and know the traps.
Experience will allow us to build a unified team in the shortest time and focus on our strengths.

How will the team work? How do they make decisions? They work together and they make decisions based on what they hear on don't hear from the membership. This is YOUR contract, the SEIU staff will be giving us assistance, but your team will make the decisions and make the proposals they make based on what they hear from you. The team makes decisions on what they hear from the Contract Action Team.

As much as your representatives would like to get everything the members want, the truth is not every proposal can make it to the table, but every proposal that comes in will be looked at and weighed. The goal will be and always has been "The most good for the most members". Don't be surprised by your next contract, join the C.A.T. and this will truly be your contract.

Administrative Services:

Donna Doore

Cindy Proulx

Kathy Latulippe---------Returning member.

Scott Neumeyer

Judy Green Tarr - Alternate

Professional Technical Services

Tom Maher-------------Returning member

Sharon Carroll---------Returning member

Andrea Lapointe------Returning member

Jerry Quirion

Ron Perry - Alternate

Supervisory Services

Dan Menard

Aleia Hilt Lash

Debra Stowe

John Sylvester--------Returning member, new to supervisory.

Operations Maintenance & Support Services

Cordell Hackett-------Returning member

Dana Miller

Greg Berry-------------Returning member

Ken Porter

Sam Soterelis - Alternate

In Solidarity,

Bruce Hodsdon

MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 President

Comments on this blog can be emailed to Narsbars@UnionMaine.Org

Stay up to date: Get notified of new Posts
Enter your Email

Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

Monday, October 13, 2008

Veterans vote for------------

An unpaid ad. I wish the SEIU could get its s**t together and put together some stuff like this.
Shamelessly lifted from the AFLCIO.

WE RESPECT JOHN McCAIN'S

SERVICE.

WILL HE RESPECT OURS?


Download flier .

“As a veteran, I respect John McCain’s military service. But as a family man trying to make ends meet, I’m having a hard time with McCain’s record in Washington.”—Jim Wasser, IBEW Local 176, Vietnam veteran

McCain wants to tax your health care. McCain wants to make employer-provided health benefi ts part of taxable income, imposing a new tax on working families, while giving the top 10 health insurance companies $1.9 billion in tax breaks. (Health08.org, Forum, 10/31/07; Center for American Progress, 4/9/08)

McCain supports privatizing Social Security and raising the Medicare eligibility age. (Wall Street Journal, 3/3/08)

“I know NAFTA was a good idea.” McCain has voted for every unfair trade deal that has crossed his desk and supported tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. (Des Moines Register and www.BigTh ink.com interview, 11/07; H.R. 3450, Vote 395, 11/20/93; H.R. 4444, Vote 251, 9/19/00; S. 1637, Vote 83, 5/5/04)

McCain voted to privatize federal jobs and cut workers’ overtime pay, while voting in favor of foreign trade deals that outsource American jobs. (H.R. 5631, Vote 234, 9/6/06; S. 256, Vote 27, 3/7/05)

McCain opposed the 21st Century GI Bill and voted against increased funding for veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. (ABCNews.com, 5/26/08; S.Amdt. 2745 to S.Con.Res. 95, Vote 40, 3/10/2004; S.Amdt. 149 to S.Con.Res. 18, Vote 55, 3/16/2005; S.Amdt. 3007 to S.Con.Res. 83, Vote 41, 3/14/2006; H.R. 1591, Vote 126, 3/29/2007)

“Economics is something that I’ve really never understood.” John McCain will even admit it himself—he just doesn’t get it. (“Th e Swamp,” Chicago Tribune, 12/18/07)

“I fought for freedom, too. But I vote for my family. I simply can’t vote for John McCain.”
—Jim Wasser

Enter your Email

Preview Powered by FeedBlitz

Sunday, October 12, 2008

It's Back

Majority report finds Palin Qualified.....................

Palin found qualified for indictment

The report of retired prosecutor Steve Branchflower, hired by the Alaska legislature to investigate alleged misconduct on the part of Alaska's governor, Sarah Palin was issued yesterday. The full report is available here. The main conclusion is that Palin abused her power as governor to settle a personal family fight and broke the Alaska ethics law. The report contains the statement: "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110 (a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act."

Although she could be impeached and fined for this behavior, but it is doubtful that the Republican-controlled state legislature will sanction her at all.

If you haven't been following “Troopergate” here is the story quick and dirty (pun intended). Palin's sister, Molly, was involved in a divorce and child custody fight with her former husband, state trooper Mike Wooten. Palin, wanted to help her sister in the custody battle so she decided to fire her sister’s ex-husband. Sarah asked the state commissioner of public safety, Walt Monegan, to fire Wooten. Monegan refused. Wooten had been involved in misconduct earlier, but Monegan told Palin that Wooten had been disciplined and the case was closed. Monegan also told Palin to get drop the pressure tactics as they might be seen as an ethics violation. Palin took his advice and assigned her husband, Todd Palin, the job of getting Wooten fired. Branchflower found over a dozen incidents where state employees tried to get Wooten fired. At the end, Palin fired Monegan. This firing started the investigation.

Palin says the report is politically motivated., yet Republicans control the state legislature, and the report was released by a unanimous vote of the bipartisan Joint Legislative Council. Steve Branchflower, lead investigator , is a retired prosecutor with a reputation for integrity.

And then?

McCain’s defense of Obama at a Republican Rally when he took the mic from one of his own supporters and said Obama was a ‘decent family man” showed a little of the John McCain that people believed in during the 2000 campaign. Sorry, but it is too little, too late.

McCain’s judgment has been under fire for choosing Palin as a running mate. If you can't even vet your running mate, how can you appoint a cabinet and many more federal positions?

McCain could dump Palin and Obama's steady refrain that McCain is erratic would be a self fulfilling prophecy. Who could he pick? The base wouldn't tolerate Lieberman’s pro-choice stand on abortion. McCain thinks (rightly) that Mike Huckabee, is a whacko. Mitt Romney might be a good pick for economic reasons but having two guys worth $100 million and $200 million when the top of the ticket can’t remember how many houses he has wouldn't fly.

The GOP base hates McCain’s Mortgage Plan

McCain’s plan would have the government buy bad mortgages from the banks and then renegotiate terms with the homeowners. McCain quickly found out that no one on either side thinks it will work.

60 Democrats would make for a Filibuster-Proof Senate

The Republicans are thinking it is Halloween already as the poll numbers for Democratic candidates is making possible to think about having 60 Democratic senators and an 80-seat Democratic majority in the House.