SEIU 2008 Issue Priorities

SEIU 2008 Issue Priorities

Public Sector
Budget.

For all of our public sector members, from developmental disabilities workers to classified school employees to parks employees, ensuring that California doesn’t throw away its future and destroy what we’ve worked so hard to build as a state by slashing vital programs is the top priority.

Childcare Organizing.SB 867 (Cedillo and DeLeon) would allow family childcare providers to join together in a union and fight for better working conditions and benefits. A similar bill was vetoed last year.

Temporary Workers.
SEIU Members from Locals 521, 721 and 1021 attended Joint Legislative Audit Committee hearing in support of AB 1496.

AB 1496 (Swanson), our “Justice Can’t Be Temporary” campaign, protects workers by closing loopholes that allow governing boards in cities and counties to hire temporary workers to perform work that would otherwise be performed by permanent workers.
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Pension Funds & Human Rights.
As part of our commitment to international human rights and a global movement for justice, SEIU is sponsoring AB 1967 (Torrico), The Responsible Private Equity Investment Act, to stop future CalPERS and CalSTRS investments with private equity firms partly owned by sovereign wealth funds that earn profits for countries with terrible human rights records.

Helping Children Succeed. We continue to lay the foundation for Helping Children Succeed, our long-term project to re-invent and better coordinate how the most vulnerable children in our state receive support and services. Our preparation includes ongoing research, member input, stakeholder conversations, and policy development.

Healthcare
Oversight of Private Hospital Sales.

On April 8 and 9, Tarzana RNs, lobbied in Sacramento at the Capitol, talking to State Senators and Assembly members about bills on which they soon would vote.

SEIU is seeking to ensure that communities are protected when private hospitals are sold by enhancing state oversight of private and district hospital sales.

Cost and Quality Accountability (Transparency).By requiring healthcare providers and insurance companies to provide data on healthcare costs and quality, we will increase transparency and competition in the healthcare market, reduce costs, and increase quality. This will build on our work in AB x1 1. See our healthcare campaign for more information.
Continuing Healthcare Reform. We are currently evaluating every aspect of AB x1 1 to determine how to use this policy and political work as building blocks year-by-year.

Property Services

Airline Passenger Bill of Rights. As our property services division continues to organize support workers at major airports, SEIU will co-sponsor an “Airline Passenger Bill of Rights” to highlight how workers’ conditions affect safety and service at airports.
Support for Justice for Janitors. SEIU janitors in California are involved in a contract campaign this year, and we will build political support and educate the public on their struggle through a resolution supporting Justice for Janitors.

Long-Term Care
Defending Low-Income Seniors and People With Disabilities From Budget Cuts. The Governor’s budget proposes to slash by 18% hours for IHSS clients’ essential life services such as grocery shopping and cleaning. The Governor’s budget also proposes a $324 million cut to SSI/SSP, which provides cash assistance fo low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
Homecare Workers: Paycheck Issues.SEIU will work on legislation to address lost paychecks and will work on implementation of direct deposit legislation.

Homecare for Middle-Class Consumers. SEIU is working to make homecare more available to more people by allowing middle-income seniors and people with disabilities the option of paying for IHSS services at cost.

Self-Directed Care Pilot Program. We are working to finalize a bill, AB 1674 (Richardson), that will allow consumers in five counties to choose the provider of their care. AB 1674 was signed by the Governor pending amendments form the Administration.