News and Updates from Around Georgia
January 6, 2009
The state is looking at privatizing mental health in Georgia. We are having a meeting on February 21 at 10 am to discuss what this means for state employees and what if anything we should do about the move. They have already put out a Request for Bid for Georgia Regional Hospital in Decatur. The meeting is at 1776 Peachtree St NW Ste 315 South (take south elevator to 3rd floor).
As part of the 29th Poor People’s Day at the Georgia Capitol, SEIU /NAGE member Carolyn Simmons will be participating in a community workshop on privatization of mental health. For more information, go to www.ga-hungercoaltion.org.
Bibb County School Bus Drivers
In Bibb County, school bus drivers are passing a petition to make sure they get paid for all the time on the bus. The Board of Education wants them to clock out if they are called to a meeting with their supervisor, to clock out and then wash the buses, to clock out after they drop off their last child, even if they are still driving the bus home to store it. We can expect that union members will be addressing the school board about these issues later this month.
Headstart
Our members at Headstart will be gearing up for negotiations for their new contract. To get started there will be a meeting to do a pre-contract survey at 4 p.m. on Monday, February 23 at Applebee’s Restaurant, 3690 Cascade Rd SW. All members are encouraged to attend this important meeting about our future.