SEIU District 1199 is pleased to announce that our very own President Becky Williams has been elected to serve as a Vice President for SEIU International and will continue to serve as the top leader of SEIU District 1199.

President Williams will expand the voice of our Local, working with SEIU President Mary Kay Henry and the International Executive Board to improve the lives of working people and their families and to achieve greater social and economic justice.

In addition to this new role, President Williams continues to serve as a national leader on the SEIU International Executive Board (IEB) and is a member of IEB Health Care Council, the Midwest Area Leadership Council, and the International Member Strength Committee.

When it comes to issues that affect working people, where do the candidates stand? See where President Barack Obama stands on issues that affect workers compared to his potential opponents in the 2012 Presidential Election.

Barack Obama Report Card

Barack Obama vs. GOP Leaders

Barack Obama vs. Michelle Backman

Barack Obama vs. Herman Cain

Barack Obama vs. Newt Gingrich

Barack Obama vs. Jon Huntsman

Barack Obama vs. Rick Perry

Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney

Saturday, October 29

Cincinnati Hear Our Voices Day of Voting
10:00 am to Noon
Word of Deliverance Ministries
693 Fresno Rd,
Cincinnati 45240
Breakfast and Ride to Board of Elections

Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship
2324 May St.,
Cincinnati 45206
Details

Sunday, October 30

Columbus "Souls to the Polls"
1 pm to 5 pm

Bethel AME Church
2012 Cleveland Ave.
Columbus OH 43211

Union Grove Baptist
266 N. Champion Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43203

Shiloh Baptist Church
720 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43203

Family Baptist Church
966 Oakwood Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43206

Lincoln Park Community Baptist Church
675 E. Markison Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43207

St Paul AME Church
639 East Long Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Travel to the BOE and then return to St. Paul AME for lunch/dinner
Details and Signup

Cleveland Hear Our Voices Day of Voting
1 PM - 5 PM

Pick up Locations

Abyssina Baptist Church
1161 East 105th Street
Cleveland, OH 44108

Church of God and Christ
2940 Martin Luther King Drive
Cleveland, OH 44104
Lunch will be provided
Details and Signup

Toledo Hear Our Voices Day of Voting
Noon - 4 PM

3rd Baptist Church
402 Pinewood Ave
Toledo OH 43604
Lunch will be provided.
Details and Signup

Boo on 2
Rally against Issue 2 with Safe Halloween Family Event Afterwards
First Grace United Church of Christ
350 South Portage Path
Akron, OH 44320
Details and Signup

Thursday, November 3

SEIU members joined firefighters and residents of the community at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 67 in Columbus to rally against Senate Bill 5 and urge Ohioans to vote NO on Issue 2.

Labor leaders addressed an enthusiastic crowd and emphasized the negative effects Senate Bill 5 will have on Ohio communities. SEIU District 1199 President, Becky Williams, was on hand to voice her opposition to Issue 2 and tell the crowd Senate Bill 5 is bad for Ohio.

"Senate Bill 5 is an attack on all of us," says Williams. "We need to talk to our friends, our neighbors, and everyone we meet and let them know they need to vote no on Issue 2 to protect their communities."

Senate Bill 5 puts every Ohioan's safety at risk by making it illegal for public employees to negotiate for adequate staffing levels and nearly impossible to bargain for safety equipment. By voting NO on Issue 2, Ohioans can repeal Senate Bill 5, which will allow workers the right to bargain over concerns that protect communities.

After the rally, volunteers hit the streets to knock on doors and urge people in the community to repeal Senate Bill 5 by voting NO on Issue 2. Volunteers will continue to canvass neighborhoods until Election Day to inform voters that Senate Bill 5 is unfair, unsafe, and hurts all Ohioans.

As the November 8 election draws closer, it is vital voters know the negative impact Senate Bill 5 will have on Ohio and you can help. Click here to volunteer a couple hours between now and Election Day to tell Ohioans to vote NO on Issue 2.

Tonight, the U.S. Senate votes on the American Jobs Act - a bill proposed by President Obama that includes billions of dollars to address work that needs doing in our communities.

Whether it's bridges, roads, schools or other projects, the Senate has the chance to put Americans back to work and rebuild the economy for the long-term.

It's unsurprising that Republicans plan to block the bill - even though it includes ideas they've been supportive of in the past.

As the clock ticks down to the big vote, your Senator needs to hear from you.

We set up a toll free number for you to call and speak out about the need for job creation in your community. Just call 1-877-851-2521

When you're done, visit this link http://action.seiu.org/AJA-calls and let us know what they said.

Our communities are hurting and it's time Congress get to work creating jobs, not figuring out how to squeeze in more job-killing budget cuts.

Your call to the Senate is important, so please make it today.

Early voting has started in Ohio, allowing voters to cast an early ballot at their local board of elections or by mail. Voter turnout is key to turning out voters to Vote NO on Issue 2 and repeal Senate Bill 5.

Until October 11, people not registered to vote may register and vote at their local board of elections on the same day.

Early voting is important in the event you find yourself unable to make it to the polls on election day. Voters can simply visit their local board of elections office to cast their ballot or request an absentee ballot.

If you plan to vote early at your local board of elections, you must bring identification - an Ohio driver's license or valid photo ID, a utility bill from the past year or a pay stub that includes the current name and address.

Cast your vote today. Vote NO on Issue 2 to veto Senate Bill 5.

Click here for an Absentee Ballot Request form.

Click here for a list of Ohio Board of Elections Offices.

Ohio's Budget Conference Committee will meet at 3:30 PM on Friday, June 24. Speaker Batchelder says the conference committee report will be voted out Friday and on the Senate floor for an up-and-down vote Tuesday.

Call the conference Committee members and leadership today to let them know you support a balanced approach. This is the last chance to be heard.

Not sure what to say? Use the following script - Please support provisions in the conference committee report that balances spending cuts with wise revenue investments, like closing tax loopholes that will help us meet today's needs and position us for economic prosperity. We need a balanced approach that includes revenue in order to maintain investments in the basic services that build a strong economy like K-12 education, higher education, and infrastructure.

Executive Leadership:

House Leadership

Speaker Bill Batchedler
Phone: 614.466.8140
Email: district69@ohr.state.oh.us

Minority Leader Armond Budish
Phone: 614.466.5411
Email: district08@ohr.state.oh.us

Senate Leadership:
Or call legislators toll-free at 1.800.282.0253

Senate President Tom Niehaus
Phone: 614.466.8082
Email: sd14@senate.state.oh.us

Minority Leader Capri Cafaro
Phone: 614.466.7182
Email: sd32@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Conference Committee Members:
Or call legislators toll-free at 1.800.282.0253

Sen. Chris Widener
Phone: 614.466.3780
Email: sd10@senate.state.oh.us

Sen. Shannon Jones
Phone: 614.466.9737
Email: sd07@senate.state.oh.us

Sen. Mike Skindell
Phone: 614.466.5123
Email: sd23@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Rep. Ron Amstutz
Phone: 614.466.1474
Email: district03@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. John Carey
Phone: 614.466.1366
Email: district87@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Vernon Sykes
Phone: 614.466.3100
Email: district44@ohr.state.oh.us

Testimony is being heard today on health care repeal, also known as SJR1. The legislation could be up for a full vote on the Senate floor as soon as Wednesday.

Call your State Senator and tell them to stop playing politics with our health care

Vote NO on taking away the benefits that the Federal Affordable Care Act offers such as cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare, lowering the cost of prescription drugs. Tell them to vote against ending free annual wellness visits and free preventative screenings for illnesses like diabetes, cancer and other serious health conditions that benefit from early detection and treatment.

Please call your State Senator today. Ask them if they knew that the Affordable Care Act ...

• Lets 1.8 million Ohio seniors on Medicare receive free annual check-up visits and other preventative services including mammograms and colonoscopies.

• Provided a one-time, tax-free $250 rebate to 109,102 Ohioans to receive to help pay for prescription drugs in the "donut hole" coverage gap in 2010.

• Includes 50 percent discounts for eligible seniors in 2011 on covered, brand name prescription drugs.

• Means that 35,500 young adults in Ohio can stay on their parent's health care insurance plans until they're 26, to give them time to look for a job after they finish school.

• Prevents nearly 6.7 million residents of Ohio from having lifetime limits placed on their health care by private insurance companies.

Please call your State Senator now and tell them to vote NO on health care repeal.

The most direct attack on workers' rights in Ohio, Senate Bill 5, is scheduled to go up for a vote this week.

Join other SEIU 1199 members and other defenders of the middle class from across the state who will be out in force at the Statehouse this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to show our lawmakers that we will not be silenced and we will not have our rights taken from us:

Tues., March 29, Wed., March 30 & Thurs., March 31
9 am - 2 pm, 4 pm - 6 pm
No to S.B. 5 on West Lawn of Ohio Statehouse
1 Capitol Square
Columbus, Oh 43215