Michelle Blau

Michelle Blau3536 SE 26th AvenuePortland, Oregon 97202

Fax: (503) 238-6692Michelleb@seiu49.org

And even if they qualify, some, such as single parents, often don't put their children on their medical coverage because of the cost, said Michelle Blau, field representative for SEIU Local 790, because the county requires that the employee to pay 20 percent of the premium to cover a dependent.

While employees are covered 100 percent by the county, Blau said dependents are not.And for a single parent, the cost of dependent coverage could be ,250 per month, she said.

For more information about how to join SEIU Local 49, contact Michelle Blau at 503.236.4949, x235.

The prices of baked goods, said Michelle Blau, field representative for Service Employees International Union, Local 270, represent the increase in co-payments and costs of benefits that workers will face under a county proposal.

Blau said the union has negotiated with the county since March, but so far the county hasn't given what she said are decent offers.

Besides the proposed increase in health care costs, Blau said there are several other issues the union wants the county to address.Included in those issues, she said, are a 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase, more than two weeks layoff notice, equity pay compared to what comparable workers get in surrounding counties and a one-year extension of the current contract.

The current contract expires June 30.

The union, she said, is proposing 30 days or more for layoff notices.

And the 2.5 percent in COLA is equal to state and Bay Area increases, she said.

She said that because other surrounding counties pay more for the same position, the county has a position vacancy rate of 10 to 15 percent as workers leave for better pay.

When talks started, she said, the union went in knowing that the state's budget problems would affect the county.

That's why the union only went in with five key items, she added.

Instead, what the county has proposed in health care cuts will cost workers $6.2 million and an increase in premium pay, she said.

Adding insult to injury, Blau said, is that the board of supervisors just gave itself a 17 percent raise in pay.

The union represents 8,000 hospital, public health care, human services and child support workers in the county.

But county Supervisor Victor Mow said the talks are ongoing and that the county is negotiating with other groups besides Blau's.
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Blau said the union will rally Wednesday and Thursday at noon to keep the issue burning.

The vote was 92 percent to 8 percent for a strike, said Michelle Blau, field representative for Service Employees International Union Local 790,

It's now up to the county to avoid a strike, Blau said.

"They created this crisis," she said.

Of more than 6,000 county workers, Blau said 2,000 to 3,000 county workers voted to authorize a strike if necessary.

The union, which has been in talks with the county for six months, is asking for a cost-of-living increase of 2.5 percent, a one-year extension of the current contract and dismissal of a county proposal for workers to pick up part of the cost for health care.

The county wants workers to absorb $6.2 million in health-care costs, Blau said.Those costs would be passed on in an increase in co-payments and premiums, she said.

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Ramirez started working for the county's Office of Substance Abuse in 1994, said Michelle Blau, field representative for Service Employees International Union Local 790.
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Blau said placement on the seniority list is important to county employees.

"It's how layoffs are determined," she said after the meeting."It's the only determining factor."

Blau said that during Ramirez's tenure with the court's drug program, things such as vacation, retirement, even benefits were coming from the county.
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In fact, during his transfer from the court to OSA's prevention program, Ramirez simply transferred over, Blau said.
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Blau said SEIU Local 790 was assured Ramirez would be included in each previous seniority list.

For more information, contact Michelle Blau at 503.236.4949, ext. 235.

Michelle BlauOrganizermichelleb@seiu49.org

Michelle BlauHealth Care Division Directormichelleb@seiu49.org