After months of HOPE menbers coming together and meeting with Management. All Houston Police  & Parks and Rec Mechanics will be receiving the long over due raises by the end of this month.

“…I have been a Mechanic III for over 23 years and did not receive any pay raises on Mayor Bill White period because we were working on commission ( production per hour ) and we the Mechanics at HPD Fleet missed about 5 pay raises. Then the City of Houston hires a new Mechanic who is making more money per hour than Senior Mechanics…”

- Joe Garcia

“I am pleased that on the 2nd check in this month I will see a pay increase.”

- Joey Lewis

Raises had been promised in the past, but through growing membership and through opening the lines of communication between HOPE members and Management a time frame was given and met. This was a great victory for HOPE Members! Raises had been promised in the past, but through growing membership and through opening the lines of communication between HOPE members and Management a time frame was given and met. This was a great victory for HOPE Members!

Union officials with the Houston Organization of Public Employees said they could not comment on specific cases, but the union makes sure workers receive proper training and resources.

“In fact, as part of our contract, we negotiated a new employee evaluation system that will help ensure that workers are fairly and regularly evaluated and that supervisors are accountable too,” said president Melvin Hughes.

Read the complete article here.

via CHRON.com

What do you think about these findings? Comment below.

HOPE Local 123 together with Local 1 Justice for Janitors host State Representative Candidate Forum.

Last night the Texas State Council hosted a candidate forum at the HOPE/SEIU Local 1 union office to a room full of candidates and members. Visiting us were candidates for the open seat in House District 137, the candidates were the following; Joe Madden, Gene Wu and Jamaal Smith.  In House District 144 we had State Representative Carol Alvarado serving as a surrogate for candidate and HCC Trustee Mary Ann Perez. In House District 131 we had State Representative Alma Allen and City Councilmember Wanda Adams also address the membership.  In addition, for House District 143 we heard Miss. Sonia Lopez who served as a surrogate for Representative Ana Hernandez -Luna and Doug Weiskopf. In House District 134 we had candidate Ann Johnson address the crowd on why she is running. HOPE and SEIU Members also had the fortunate opportunity to hear both Representative Garnet Colman and Representative Sylvester Turner talk about Legislative session highlights and lowlights and why our Union should be active politically!

We also had Sheriff Adrian Garcia present and he updated us on his campaign and what he has accomplished in Harris County. Moreover, we also had former Congressman Nick Lampson speak to our members why he needs to return to Washington in District 14.

Overall it was an effective meeting for our membership and HOPE encourages you to become a PATH member and be part of important discussions that affect our community and Union!

For more information on PATH please call Marisol Rodriguez at 713-403-8835.

HOPE Members begin learning about they’re contract, how to enforce and steps to take if violated.

To get more information on how you can get involved with the Contract Enforcement Team email: wzetino@hopetx.org or calll 713.403.8888

On April 17th H.O.P.E. Members rally to support community groups Good Jobs = Great Houston & T.O.P. Hundreds of Houstonians rally outside of the U.S. Post Office on Tax Day. This rally was to bring awareness to the fact that many Corporations in United States do not pay taxes. Community activists along with HOPE members chant “Hey Hey Millionares .. Pay Your Fare Share ” as motorists drive by on a busy Tuesday afternoon. Many Americans are unaware and often shocked when they find out that companies such as Bank  of America do not pay taxes. To learn more and find out how you can get involved please email us at hopeinfo@hopetx.org .

Whereas, professional firefighters, police officers, municipal employees, state government employees, and teachers serve our cities and state,

Whereas, the attacks on teachers, firefighters, nurses and other dedicated public employees in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana are coming to Texas,

Whereas, some business interests want to end traditional pension systems as we know them and convert them to riskier 401(k)-style accounts that would benefit the financial industry, not workers,

Whereas, the majority of Texas public employees, including the vast majority of teachers and other school employees, work for employers that do not participate in Social Security, so that these public employees must depend instead on state and local pension funds to which these employees contribute a substantial portion of their pay,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Democratic Party adamantly opposes efforts to weaken or dismantle state and/or local pension systems.

-Becky Moeller, Texas AFL-CIO President

Members from all over the city came to participate in a Engagement Workshop where members discuss engaging and being proactive in they’re union. By engaging in the community, political, membership and workers issues.

April 12th H.O.P.E. members involved in the PATH which is a committee focus on the political aspect of HOPE met to discuss and plan. Members from Aviation, Public Works & Engineering, Health and Solid Waste focusing on what needs to be done. PATH members have been attending City Council meetings, meeting with City Council Members individually to hold our elected officials accountable.

PATH meeting are held every second Thursday of the month starting at 6:00 pm. If you are interested in getting involved with the PATH committee please contact your Organizing Rep or you can email HOPEInfo@hopetx.org .

Today newly elected E Board members were sworn in today by Reverend Rutledge. President Melvin Hughes gave congrats to everyone who ran and the new E Board. Each E Board member spoke not about winning the election but keeping the focus on the members. Stressing on the future battles and looking to the victories that HOPE members have had in the past 3 years from the 1st & 2nd Contract to the newly approved Employee Evaluation System for inspiration. Also speaking on learning from the past battles and hurdles. Below are the names of the newly appointed E Board members.

• President: Melvin Hughes
• Vice President: Jere Talley
• Treasurer: Roy Sanchez
• Secretary: Shiryl Chambers
• Health District Rep: Julie Morales
• Public Works District Reps: Rory Lister, David Williams, Calvin Miller, Daniel Box
• Public Safety District Reps: Carolyn Faison, Mallory Saxton
• Aviation: James Matujec
• Downtown District Reps: Isaiah Monroe, Brian Taylor