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How Can a Union Help?

Lobby day

Lobby day

By uniting with others who do the same type of work, you will have a stronger voice on the job and in your community—and you can help create a better future for yourself and all Americans.

SB 476 Threatens Safety

handcuffs

SB 486, introduced by Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw), would require the Michigan Department of Corrections to put out for bid all contracts for goods and services.  While it specifically refers to food services and transportation, it is worded such that it could be applied more broadly...including full prison privatization. 

Recent editorials in the Grand Rapids Press discuss this bill and take it further... asking the state to consider such options.  So time is of the essence.  We must make our voices heard, and now... before this gets too far!  Click here to take action.

Unemployment Modernization Bills

On line learning

Take action and tell your senators to pass the Unemployment Modernization Bills (House Bills 4785 and 4786).  Senate Republicans have been holding up these bills, jeopardizing $139-million in federal funding and much needed unemployment benefits for laid-off part-time workers and workers who need training.  The House passed this legislation early in May, but Senate Republicans have intentionally stalled this legislation hurting thousands of Michigan workers and  their families who desperately need these unemployment benefits.  Click here to take action.

Protect Our Wetlands Program

Beach and Kids

Governor Granholm has proposed to turn over the regulation of Michigan's wetland program to the federal Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency.  This will not only place in jeopardy millions of acres of our state's wetlands, but our lakes, rivers, streams and drinking water.  It will also lead to further delays in the permitting process stifling our state's business and economic development climate.  Take action here.
Environmental Enthusiast, take action here.

Stand up for State Employees

Lobby Day 3

 Stand up for state employees. Their negotiated pay has now come under attack by State Rep. Agema from Grandville, other House Republicans and Democratic Representative Haugh from Roseville.  State employees take action, here.
Non-state employees take action, here.

Employee Free Choice Act- Movie

Scare Tactics

SEIU International

According to CEOs and their front groups, the fabric of our nation may well fall apart, all because of the Employee Free Choice Act. Its opponents no longer debate the merits of the bill, and instead resort to hyperbolic vitriol intended to inflame the public and press. 


In reality, the Employee Free Choice Act is a bipartisan, common sense economic recovery for working families that will pump billions into our nation's economy.

Big corporations want to keep business as usual and deny their employees the free choice to join a union and bargain for better wages, benefits, and job security.

That idea has has those big corporations terrified. In fact, they're so scared, they apparently think it's the end of the world.  You have to see it to believe it. Watch the video:    http://freechoice.seiu.org/page/s/horror

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SEIU 517M LOBBY DAY MATERIALS

Below please find the links to the letter writing campaigns that will be used on May 7th’s Lobby Day. Feel free to take action and download your letters to personally hand a hard copy to your Senator and State Representative.  This information will be provided at the event itself.  For more information on the particular topic please click the “Tell me more” link on the campaign itself.

Public Service Accountability

Fairness at the bargaining table for non-instructional school employees

Local Municipalities need an increase

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SEIU members drive endorsement process in the motor city.  

Click here to watch their involvement.

Support the Employee Free Choice Act

Lobby Day 3

 Some 57 million U.S. workers say they would join a union if they could. But when workers try to gain a union voice on the job, employers respond with intimidation, harassment and retaliation. And our labor laws have become too weak to stop them.

The Employee Free Choice Act would ensure that when a majority of employees in a workplace decide to form a union, they can do so without the obstacles employers use to block their right to have a voice at work.

Please send a message to Congress and the Senate urging them to support the Employee Free Choice Act.

Stand up for the Detroit Forensic Scientists

Lab

Take action to protect the jobs of SEIU Local 517M members and to keep the Detroit police forensic lab open. Mayor Cockrel closed the entire lab based upon the results of a preliminary audit of one of the lab’s divisions (the firearms ballistic testing). It’s important to note that this particular division a majority of the employees are uniformed Detroit police officers and not trained forensic scientists, like the other lab divisions.  Click here to take action.

Ergonomics

 Take action to protect workers against disabling injuries.  Click here to take action.