[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 139 (Sunday, October 29, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E2017]]



             CONGRATULATIONS TO SEIU ON 25 YEARS OF SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Sunday, October 29, 2000

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, October 28th, I had the 
privilege of attending the 25th anniversary celebration of an 
organization which has led the way in offering improved opportunities 
and a better quality of life for working men and women, the Service 
Employees International Union. Honored at the event were President and 
Co-founder John ``JJ'' Johnson and all the Charter members of Local 
617. The program featured union members, friends and supporters, 
including Newark Mayor Sharpe James; former President Curtis Grimsley; 
Patricia Ford, SEIU International Executive Vice President; Carol 
Graves, Essex County Registrar; and Thomas Giblin, Essex County 
Democratic Chairman.
  Three decades ago, when public sector employees in my home city of 
Newark, New Jersey, and throughout the nation had not yet begun to 
organize, Service Employees International Union took the historic 
initiative of chartering Local 617. In February of 1976, Local 617 
began to negotiate with the Newark Board of Education for its first 
contract. When no satisfactory results were reached, the members voted 
to strike. With strong support from the Newark community, members 
remained on strike for 12 days. SEIU President Curtis Grimsley and 
Executive Vice President John Johnson met with Governor Brendan Byrne 
and requested his intervention to reach a settlement of the dispute. 
The strike ended with an understanding that both parties return to the 
table and bargain in good faith and agree to binding mediation.
  Since 1976, Local 617 and Local 3 jointly negotiated contracts with 
the Newark Board of Education. After the contract was settled in 1976, 
President Curtis Grimsley and Executive Vice President John Johnson 
were subpoenaed to appear in court, and a fine was imposed on Local 
617. Personal fines were imposed on President Grimsley and Executive 
Vice President Johnson and they were placed on two years probation 
because of the strike. In 1977, Local 617 organized the City of Newark 
Crossing Guards, who went on strike after there was no progress during 
negotiations. A contract was eventually reached after Mayor Kenneth 
Gibson met with the Union leadership. That same year, Local 617 
established a Community Service Plaque Award for Community involvement 
to be presented to a student from each of the Newark High Schools.
  The Local also successfully petitioned to represent the Bus 
Attendants of the Newark Board of Education. In 1978, there was a 3-day 
strike which led to approval of a benefit package for the membership 
consisting of prescription drugs coverage, dental care, vision care and 
temporary disability, benefits which members still enjoy today.
  In 1990, Local 617 organized the Newark Pre-school Employees. That 
year, 250 workers went on strike with the support of the parents and 
the community. This strike, lasting 7 weeks, was the longest in the 
history of Local 617. Since that time, SEIU has been certified to 
represent additional units, which include Community Day Nursery, Christ 
Church Day Care Center, Mary E. Wheeler Willis Educational Center, 
Irvington Housing Authority, HOPES, Irvington Crossing Guards, City of 
Newark Department of Public Works, City of Newark 911 Communication 
Operators and the Jersey City Head Start Program. The Union also 
obtained an affiliation agreement with the International Union, which 
merged Local 305 of the Newark Housing Authority into Local 617. The 
Local has also affiliated with Joint Council 33, the Eastern Conference 
of Service Employees, the New Jersey AFL-CIO, Essex West Hudson Labor 
Council, the Industrial Union Council, the Council of Union Employees, 
and the A. Randolph Institute.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues here in Congress join me in 
congratulating Local 617 of the SEIU, an organization which has grown 
from 25 members in 1969 to over 3000 today, as they continue to 
champion the rights of working men and women.

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