Back to Home Print This Page Email This Page

SEIU 500 Mission Statement

SEIU Local 500 is dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and to creating a more just and humane society

BELIEFS
We believe our strength comes from our unity. We will not be divided by race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, gender, gender expression or sexual orientation.

We believe our power and effectiveness depend upon the active participation and commitment of our members, the development of our leaders and solidarity with each other and our allies.

We believe we have a moral responsibility to leave the world a better place for our children --- and everyone’s children.

VISION
Our vision is of a society:
  • where all workers and their families live and work in dignity,
  • where work is respected, valued and fairly rewarded,
  • where workers have the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and abilities,
  • where the collective voice and power of workers is encouraged and realized in
  • democratic and progressive unions,
  • where union solidarity stands firm against the forces of discrimination and hate and the
  • unfair employment practices of exploitative employers, and
  • where government plays an active role in improving the lives of working people.

To achieve this vision, we must:
  • Organize unorganized public service workers, extending to them the gains of unionism to ensure that a higher standard of living for SEIU Local 500 members can be achieved and maintained.
  • Build political power to ensure that workers voices are heard at every level of government to create economic opportunity and foster social justice.
  • Provide meaningful opportunities for member involvement and participation in our union.
  • Develop highly trained and motivated leaders at every level of the union who reflect the membership in all its diversity.
  • Bargain contracts that improve wages and working conditions, expand the role of workers in workplace decision-making, and build a stronger union.
  • Build coalitions and act in solidarity with other organizations that share our concern for social and economic justice.
  • Engage in direct action that demonstrates our power and determination to win.

April 25, 2005