Local 500 Annapolis Lobby Night A Shining Success

March 1st was our 2010 Montgomery County Education Night in Annapolis.  This year nearly 100 members of SEIU Local 500, MCEA, MCAAP, and MCCPTA met with state Senators and Delegates who are part of the Montgomery County delegation to discuss how essential state education aid to MCPS is to our students and communities.

Arnetta Rolling, a security assistant at Walter Johnson High School and a first-time member-lobbyist, said of the evening, "It's inspired me to get more active.  They're our legislators -- we send them to Annapolis and they want to hear from us.  Everybody's got to make an effort.  I'm looking forward to learning more about how MCPS is funded and the budget process."

Another first-time member-lobbyist, Bella Portillo of Oak View Elementary, told organizers she came to Annapolis, "because I'm very concerned about the future of supporting services in general and specifically how our students will be affected if positions are cut."  According to Portillo, her District 20 delegates were impressed by Local 500 members' commitment to service and students and vowed to do everything they could in a difficult year to fund MCPS.

> View more photos at Local 500's Flickr site

Haiti Relief Initiative--How You Can Help

On Jan. 12, Haiti was hit with the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the area. The quake has devastated the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the rest of the island. A catastrophe of this magnitude requires everybody's help.

SEIU is developing a relief initiative, Help Haiti, to direct donations from members, local unions and the public to effective aid organizations. At the same time, SEIU Healthcare members--nurses, personal care assistants, doctors--are mobilizing to provide direct medical support to the people of Haiti.

Ways you can help:

- Visit Help Haiti to learn more about SEIU's relief initiative.

- Donate to the International Relief Fund of the American Red Cross, online here or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.

- The Red Cross is also allowing mobile donations towards Haiti relief--just text the word HAITI to 90999 to donate $10, and the charge will show up on your next phone bill.

Rep. Donna Edwards Talks About EFCA

Maryland Congresswoman Donna Edwards talked with supporters on March 28 about her pro-worker voting record, her re-election, and the Employee Free Choice Act.  

> Read more

Donna Edwards Talks About SEIU & Accountability

Through your COPE contributions, SEIU helps to support candidates, like U.S. Congresswoman Donna Edwards, who represents Maryland’s 4th Congresssional District. Thanks to members' hard work and COPE giving, Edwards is now a strong voice for working men and women in Washington.