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SEIU: Pat Quinn thanks you!

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Gov. Quinn and SEIU members in Chicago on Jan. 30.

February 9 -- (from
quinnforillinois.com)

   We did it and you deserve the credit.
   Along with hundreds of thousands of people across Illinois, you went to the polls last Tuesday and sent a message to the political establishment by nominating Pat Quinn as the Democratic candidate for Governor. 
   You shocked the pundits and soothsayers who had written Pat off by reminding them that the only poll that matters is the one at the ballot box.
  But make no mistake – our work isn’t done.
   In the weeks and months ahead, we’re going to need your help to bring our message of jobs and growth to Illinois and take on the relentless Republican spin machine.

Watch the video: Pat Quinn thanks you (youtube.com)

SEIU rallies to get out the vote for Quinn, Preckwinkle

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(SEIU Illinois State Council photo)

     On Saturday, SEIU and the Teamsters held a get-out-the-vote rally at a Chicago hotel for Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago Ald. Toni Preckwinkle.
     "Win with Quinn" chants filled the room as Quinn stressed his record on job creation.
     "The fella I'm running against, he's been comptroller for 12 years," Quinn said. "He hasn't created one job in 12 years.  Last Tuesday, we were down at Ford and, in one day, we created 1,200 jobs."
     Polls show Preckwinkle ahead in the race for Cook County Board president.
     "We all believe in the importance of organizing," Preckwinkle said. "And we know that if we're not organized, if we don't work together, we're not going to accomplish anything."

Read more about Saturday's rally at progressillinois.com
Video: Pat Quinn at GOTV rally (SEIU Illinois Council)
Video: Toni Preckwinkle at GOTV rally (SEIU Illinois Council)

SEIU: This president's priorities are our priorities

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(White House photo / Pete Souza)

seiu.org
January 27, 2010
 
     Following President Obama's State of the Union address, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger issued this statement: 
     "Tonight, President Obama gave a dramatic reminder of why so many of us joined his unprecedented call for change two years ago.
      The fact is, this president's priorities -- creating millions of new jobs, reforming our broken healthcare system, and holding accountable the parties that crashed our economy in the first place -- are our priorities.
      They're the priorities of the men and women across this country who get up each morning with no greater hope or desire than to provide decent lives for themselves and their kids.
 
Read Anna Burger's complete statement (seiu.org)
VIDEO: The speech (whitehouse.gov), Key moments (seiu.org)

HELP SEIU RESCUE
HEALTH CARE REFORM

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By Andy Stern
SEIU President
January 25, 2010

     We're at a critical moment. SEIU members have fought for nearly a decade on health care.
     Now, some in Congress want to turn us back. They want to pass a scaled-back version of the health reform bill, and as one blogger put it, "hack it to pieces."
     A comprehensive bill is the only way to fix the health care system - from expanding Medicare benefits and lowering health care costs, to improving rural care and home care services.
     Now we're in a position of having to rescue comprehensive health reform. If anyone can do it, it's 2.2 million SEIU members.

Click here to call your member of Congress
Click here to email your member of Congress
Click here to post on Twitter or Facebook
Click here to read SEIU President Andy Stern's full message

Text HEALTH to 787753 for mobile updates

SEIU endorses Toni Preckwinkle For Cook County Board President

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Toni Preckwinkle and SEIU Local 73 President Christine Boardman speak in Chicago on January 12.

(January 22, 2010)
     The SEIU Illinois Council is proud to endorse Toni Preckwinkle for President of the Cook County Board.
     During her years in the Chicago City Council, Preckwinkle earned a record of distinguished public service by challenging the political establishment and standing up for working families.
      "Preckwinkle is a progressive and independent Democrat who offers the best hope for reforming county government while continuing to deliver quality health care to those who need it most," said SEIU Illinois Council President Tom Balanoff.
     "We need a county board president with some backbone on the side of working families," said SEIU Local 73 President Christine Boardman. "It is our strong belief that Toni Preckwinkle is that person."

Read more about the Illinois primary at progressillinois.com
Toni Preckwinkle for Cook County Board President Web site
  

HEALTH CARE REFORM UPDATE: WHAT
WE'D LOSE WITH MARKET-ONLY REFORM

By Jessica Kutch, seiu.org
January 21, 2010

     With the election of Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate, many in Washington are debating how to proceed on health insurance reform.
     Some have floated the idea that passing an entirely new bill - one that contains only insurance market reforms - is the best way forward.
      While there is a case to be made for expediency (yes, we're all ready for Congress to finish the job), market-only reform is not just politically timid, it's borderline reckless.
     Insurance market reform would do little to address the chronic, systemic problems in our health care system.

Click here to read the entire aritcle:  

MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS' MESSAGE
TO WASHINGTON: IT'S TIME FOR ACTION

Washington, D.C.
January 19, 2010


     SEIU President Andy Stern released the following statement after Republican Scott Brown's victory in the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts:         

     "The reason Ted Kennedy's seat is no longer controlled by a Democrat is clear: Washington's inability to deliver the change voters demanded in November 2008. Make no mistake, political paralysis resulted in electoral failure."

     "Today's vote must be a wake-up call that now is the time for bold action. Time to stand up to politics as usual. Time to stand up to Republican scare and stall tactics. And time to speak up for working families."

Read SEIU President Andy Stern's full statement
VIDEO: SEIU's Andy Stern on the Massachusetts election

HEALTH CARE REFORM UPDATE: THE REAL STORY ON THE EXCISE TAX FRAMEWORK

By Jessica Kutch, seiu.org
January 15, 2010

     For the past 48 hours, the beltway press have woven together scraps of quotes and hearsay for stories about the excise tax. The week produced a lot of rumors - some true, some not - but most of which were decidedly premature.
     That was until yesterday afternoon, when labor leaders hosted a call with reporters describing exactly what framework had emerged from their talks with the White House.

Click here to read the complete story
 

'Affordability' called key
in final health reform bill

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SEIU members in Washington on February 13.

January 14, 2010
     Fifty SEIU members attened a Health Care Affordability Summit in Washington yesterday as part of a nationwide day of actions sponsored by SEIU and other organizations.
     Activists and leaders gathered on Capitol Hill to demonstrate solidarity on this critical issue and build support for common sense efforts to meld the best affordability provisions from the House and Senate bills.

Click here to read more about the 'day of action'
VIDEO: Health care tales from the trenches
Click here to check out more photos from the event
Background: A burgeoning consensus on fixing affordability

CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT MEMBERS
RATIFY CONTRACT BY 4-TO-1 MARGIN

     (December 30, 2009)
     After a year and a half of tough bargaining, Local 73 Chicago Park District members finally have a new contract.
     Chicago Park District members voted to ratify the four-year agreement by an overwhelming 4-to-1 margin.
     The contract won a wage increase for members, while promoting job security, economic security and fairness on the job.
     Health insurance benefits will remain unchanged for members.
     Members also won the right to binding arbitration of terminations and suspensions on a one-year trial basis.
     Job security and a fair wage increase during these uncertain economic times were the most challenging issues in the contract negotiations.
     Members averted threatened layoffs by agreeing to take eight furlough days in 2010.  
     "Congratulations to our bargaining commmittee," said Union Representative Frank Klein. "They worked very hard to secure this agreement amid the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression and their effort was recognized by our Chicago Park District members."


         

SEIU backs Alexi Giannoulias

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(SEIU Local 73 photo / Jonathan Labe)

September 24, 2009
     
The SEIU Illinois Council is backing Alexi Giannoulias in the race for President Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.
     The formal announcement came at a Thursday news conference attended by Local 73 Vice President Tim McDonald and Local 73 Division Directors Leroy Jones and Wayne Lindwall.
    
VIDEO: SEIU endorses Giannoulias in U.S. Senate race

SEIU endorses Gov. Quinn

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(SEIU Local 73 photo / Jonathan Labe)

September 14, 2009
    
The SEIU llinois Council has endorsed Gov. Pat Quinn in the Democratic race for governor, recognizing his decades-long record of standing up for working families.
     Local 73 President Christine Boardman, Local 73 Vice President Phil Martini and SEIU Doctors Council Regional Coordinator Emile Junge were among the union officials on hand at the endorsement announcement and news conference.

Video -- Quinn: 'Glad to be with the purple'
SEIU State Council video: Quinn wins endorsement
ABC7 video -- SEIU endorses Pat Quinn for governor

RALLY FOR AFFORDABLE HIGHER EDUCATION

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UIC Campus
Chicago, Illinois
 
January 21, 2010

Click here for photos

MLK XV RALLY

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Lyons, Illinois
January 19, 2010

Click here for photos

HOLIDAY PARTY

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Chicago Talent
Development H.S.
December 17, 2009


Click here for photos