State

Al Pieper Retires

Field Organizer Al Pieper has retired from SEIU Local 73 after 21 years of service. Everyone at Local 73 sends their best wishes to Al for a happy and healthy retirement.

2-0 at Culbertson Memorial Hospital

Sandy Culbertson

Phil Martini, Sandy Valentine, and Joe Richert

     After a year of fighting to win a first contract at Culbertson memorial hospital in Rushville, IL, SEIU prevailed and ratification for a CBA is in the near future. We currently have two wins and no losses at the Labor Board in wrongful termination cases.
    One of these victories was for Sandy Valentine, who just received notice after 3 years that she will be returning to work as a Medical Records Tech. The Board determined that Sandy was wrongfully terminated by the hospital for an alleged HIPPA violation two weeks after testifying against her boss at a Labor Board hearing. Sandy was on the bargaining committee and was instrumental in organizing the workers at the hospital. She is being reinstated with full back pay and benefits.
    The second of these victories was for Eileen Blickenstaff. She testified
at the same hearing as Sandy, was a member of the organizing committee

and bargaining team, and was also fired on trumped up charges. She was reinstated by the Labor Board with a $65,000 check for back pay and benefits for her time off. Her job title is no longer in the union, but Eileen still wears her SEIU button proudly.
Congratulations to our Culbertson Memorial Hospital members!

Springfield Military Firefighters' Jobs Saved

183 Fire Fighters

Mike Evans and Kevin Schott, two of our fire fighters from Springfield.

As previously reported, SEIU was fighing to save our members' jobs within the Fire Fighters wing of the Department of Military Affairs. A decision was brought down to remove the F16s from the 183rd Air Base in Springfield. With the F16s being relocated to other states it left the 183 rd with no flying mission. The Air Force decided that without a flying mission the Fire Fighters are no longer required.
We worked with local politicians, community group, and Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Obama's staff in trying to preserve the Fire Fighters positions. Union member Kevin Schott, Senior Fire Fighter, had traveled to Washington D.C. appeared on radio, talked with local community groups, and much more educating everyone of the work they do and the
importance of their remaining a part of the 183rd. They provide

protection to the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport as well as Fire Fighter training state wide. They also provide mutual aid to the surrounding communities and provide valuable services to the entire state of Illinois.
A week ago, Senators Durbin and Obama had issued a letter to the National Guard Bureau Chief asking him to work with Air Force leaders to keep the firefighters' jobs. (To read the letter, visit the State Journal Register.)
Our combined efforts paid off, and it was announced on August 26 that the firefighters of the 183rd Fighter Wing would remain in Springfield until September 2009. Over the next year, Senators Durbin and Obama hope to find a new flying mission for the 183rd. This is not the end of the fight for the 183rd, but a very encouraging step.

For the full story, visit the State Journal Register.