MEMBER

WELCOME PACKET
 MISSION STATEMENT
SEIU Local 1 is committed to improving the lives of its members and all working
people by winning real economic justice and standing at the forefront of the
fight for immigrant, racial, and environmental justice. We do that by engaging,
educating, and empowering members like you to lead on Local 1’s strategic
priorities by providing the appropriate tools to succeed as leaders and
help create a transformative union where members are invested in building a
broader social movement.

JUSTICE IN EVERY CITY!

“SEIU Local 1 is on the move, creating a movement for social
justice, economic justice and racial justice in every city across
the local.”
Pam Owens Moore, Detroit Janitor

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have any questions for your union please call the Member Resource Center:
(877) 233-8880

Organizer

Phone

Your Steward

Quarterly membership meetings held first Saturday of March, June, September

(except when it conflicts with Labor Day weekend) and December.

One of the best ways to receive your union updates is by following SEIU Local 1
online. Check us out at our website, www.seiu1.org, and follow us on social
media!
/SEIULocal1 @SEIULocal1 @SEIU.LOCAL1 www.seiu1.org

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SEIU Local 1
 LOCAL 1 GOVERNING STRUCTURE

Tom Balanoff Laura Garza Lonnell Saffold

President Secretary-Treasurer Recording Secretary

52 Executive Board members

BRIEF WELCOME MESSAGE FROM YOUR UNION PRESIDENT

It is my honor and privilege to welcome you into SEIU Local 1. SEIU Local 1 is at
the forefront of fighting for a better future for working families and justice for all.
Together we will continue to raise standards and wages and beat back anti
worker attacks. Once again, I would like to congratulate you and
remind you that it is now your responsibility to help lead our
efforts in building a more just society! I look forward to
meeting you in person at our meetings, rallies, and other
events.

YES WE CAN
TAK MOZEMY!
SI SE PUEDE!

Congratulations! You have joined together with thousands of

janitors, security officers, food service workers, higher educa-
tion faculty and others across six states and 11 cities in the
Midwest as a member of Service Employees International
Union Local 1. You have also joined over 2 million members of
SEIU nationwide. This booklet will give you a brief glimpse into
our work, our membership and what you can expect as a mem-
ber of Local 1. We hope that as you continue in your journey as
a member of Local 1, you learn more, become empowered and
lead us as we become a 21st century union.
Susana Perisic, Chicago Janitor

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Member Welcome Packet
 YOU ARE THE UNION

WHO IS SEIU LOCAL 1?

Service Employees International Union Local 1 unites 50,000 workers throughout
the Midwest including janitors, security officers, higher education faculty, food
service workers, and others. Local 1 is the founding Local of Service Employees
International Union and was started in Chicago in 1904 by residential mainte-
nance workers. Throughout our long history we have fought together to raise
and maintain standards for janitors, security officers and other property service
workers.

EVERYONE WANTS TO JOIN!

“Airport workers like me at Chicago O’Hare International Airport
are fighting to join SEIU Local 1 because we know with a union
we’ll have higher wages, better benefits, and a voice on the job!
Because of the support of SEIU Local 1 members, 8,000 of my
coworkers and I are now closer to a better future with real wage
increases and job security. Local 1 was with us every step of the
way and we cannot wait to be part of Local 1. We all know in our
union, we are stronger!
Oliwia Pac, Chicago O’Hare Airport Wheelchair Attendant

YOU HAVE A VOICE!

“Our union helps us have a voice on the job. Without our union,
anything can happen.”
Eugene Hubbard, St. Louis Janitor

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SEIU Local 1
 BUILDING POWER
ACROSS THE MIDWEST
SEIU Local 1 represents 50,000 janitors, security officers, doorstaff, residential
engineers, sports and entertainment vendors, higher education faculty, public
sector employees, and more in 11 cities and six states across the Midwest. By
coming together on the job, Local 1 members win higher wages, better benefits,
and stronger retirement plans for themselves and their coworkers!

AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE
“As a union member, I have access to better and more
affordable health care.”
Jose Bernal, Chicago Janitor

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
“When we fight, we win! Every time we come together
for a contract campaign we get higher wages and
better benefits. There is strength in numbers.”
Paula Henriquez, Chicago Public Schools Custodian

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Member Welcome Packet
 WHAT IS A UNION
WHAT IS THE UNION DIFFERENCE?
Unions do more than just bring together workers for a voice on the job–joining
together brings tangible, life changing benefits to union members like you. Ben-
efits like a secure retirement, paid leave, healthcare and better pay are clearly
higher for union members than nonunion members. Check out these stats!

BENEFITS UNION NONUNION

Working families have Yes No
the power, not the boss
Workers enjoy guaranteed Yes No
annual raises
Workers build power to Yes No
win a stronger contract
Working families have Yes No “The union has made all
access to member the difference in my life.
discounts and benefits
It’s through our union
Workers have a voice and Yes No contract that we win
a vote on contracts and and protect our good
union elections
wages and benefits, and
Working families can join Yes No build power at work.”
together to build strength
through political action Sandra Ellington,
Cleveland Janitor
Workers have voice on the Yes No
job about working
conditions and other issues

UNION STRONG!
“If we don’t keep our union strong, our bosses can do whatever
they want to us.”
Vanessa Coleman, Kansas City Concessions Worker

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SEIU Local 1
 HIGHER WAGES
The median weekly earnings of union workers are 28 percent
more than nonunion workers. (Average of $6,000 less per year).

HEALTHCARE BENEFITS
About 92% of union members have health insurance compared to 68% of nonunion
employees, and are 24% more likely to have healthcare benefits.
Union members are far more likely than non-union workers to have vision, dental,
and prescription coverage. Union members also, on average, pay lower premiums.

SECURE RETIREMENT “Being a Local 1 member is

like having an umbrella to
77 percent union members vs. 20 percent protect you from rainy
nonmembers have a pension. days. The fact that we
have benefits, like a
Union workers are 59.3 percent more pension, is the best part.”
likely to have a pension.
Ewa Miklewicz, Chicago Janitor

PAID LEAVE
Union workers are more likely to have paid sick leave and 46 percent
receive full pay on sick leave vs. 23 percent for nonunion workers.
More union workers have sick leave than non-union workers.

PAID VACATION
Union workers get 28% more days off on
average than nonunion workers.

“While health care costs keep going up, being a union

member means mine have stayed low.”
Sherri Jordan, Chicago Janitor

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Member Welcome Packet
 BUILDING POWER AT WORK:
What do your monthly dues do for you?

Your monthly dues payment supports EVERYTHING Local 1 does. From negotia-
tions and contract enforcement, to legal action, research and communications,
your dues are spent solely on union efforts and actions!

■ Growing and Strengthening

our Union
■ Representing and
Negotiating for Members

■ Educating the Community

and Elected Leaders to
Advance Worker Justice

■ Affiliations with Organizations ■ Operations

that Fight for Working Families

Growing and
strengthening our union
Educating the community and
elected leaders to advance
worker justice
Affiliations with organizations
that fight for
working families

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SEIU Local 1
 WELCOME TO SEIU

MEMBER BENEFITS
A NEW BENEFIT PROGRAM EXCLUSIVELY FOR SEIU MEMBERS!
Take advantage of all of the benefit programs you find on seiumb.com—everything
from insurance and credit cards to discounts on travel and everyday items. We’re
proud to bring you this assortment of great benefits—at no cost or obligation—
just for being an SEIU member! Check them out at seiumb.com!

THE BUYING POWER OF MILLIONS OF

SEIU MEMBERS HELPS YOU:
Manage finances better: Get competitive rates on everything from
credit cards to personal loans.
Protect your family: Benefit from group rates on a growing portfolio
of insurance products
Cut your cost of living: Get special discounts at thousands of stores
and favorite merchants.
Travel for less: Enjoy specially negotiated rates and travel programs.

THERE’S NO COST OR OBLIGATION!

Get started today by registering at seiumb.com. Keep coming back to see the
new benefits we're adding. You can also sign up for email communications
from us to be the first to know when new benefits are added.

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Member Welcome Packet
 WHY I GIVE TO COPE
My name is Teresa Sanchez, and I work as a security officer in
Chicago. I give to the SEIU Local 1 Committee on Political
Education (COPE) because I want to build a better life for myself,
my family and my community. COPE helps us win higher wages,
more job security and higher standards. It makes sure working
people like me have a voice in the political process!
COPE is how working people hold elected officials accountable, and fight for
better laws that protect working men and women like me and you in the Midwest.
Because member dues cannot be used for political action, we need COPE.
Over the years, our COPE dollars have been put to good use,
fighting for things like:
■ Extended unemployment benefits
■ Better overtime laws
■ Protecting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
■ Raising the minimum wage in places like Chicago, Missouri, and Ohio
■ And so much more!
Consider donating to COPE today, like I do, so that working people can use our
influence to change our cities, our states and our entire nation, and hold elected
officials accountable!

“Workers in the city “The way we keep “Chicago must take a “Better wages,
of Chicago deserve the middle class stand now to make healthcare, and ben-
a $15 living wage. strong is by allowing sure we do not pass efits lift up families
Because Chicago workers to get to- on a legacy of wors- and communities
belongs to the peo- gether and try to get ening conditions and –and, as a result,
ple. O'Hare belongs the best wages and injustice for those our whole economy.
to the workers that benefits they can for who have so much Congratulations and
make it work. It their families.” responsibility and thank you to the
doesn't belong to the Missouri Sen. who work so hard to newest members of
billionaire class and Claire McCaskill keep our airports SEIU Local 1!”
their greed.” clean and safe for all Columbus City
Chicago Ald. travelers." Councilwoman
Carlos Rosa Chicago Ald. Elizabeth Brown
Roderick T. Sawyer

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SEIU Local 1
 WHAT ARE YOUR
RIGHTS AT WORK?

The National Labor Relations Act gives you the right to request union representa-
tion during investigatory interviews by supervisors, security and managerial staff.

THESE ARE WEINGARTEN RIGHTS

Read this
1) if management questions you for information; and
2) you are concerned that the interview/discussion could lead to your discipline.
You must ask for representation — management won’t remind you.

THIS STATEMENT
COULD SAVE YOUR JOB!

This explains that you are exercising your right to refuse to answer questions
until you have union representation.

WEINGARTEN RIGHTS
If this discussion could in any way lead to my being
disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal
working conditions, I request that my union
representative or steward be present at
this meeting. Without representation,
I choose not to answer any questions.
Member Welcome Packet
/SEIULocal1 @SEIULocal1 @SEIU.LOCAL1 www.seiu1.org