Improving Schools and Communities

1. Improving Schools and Communities 2012 YEO National Convening Washington, D.C.

2. SEIU engaged in fight for better schools • We represent 200,000 school employees (bus drivers, aides, cafeteria workers) around the country. • Our members’ #1 concern is education. • Our members’ children attend the nation’s most challenging schools. 7 percent of LA school district students are children of SEIU members. • Access to quality education is essential social and economic justice issue.

3. SEIU Partners with School Districtsfor Greater Efficiency • Solution focused-how can front line workers help improve services or save money. Re-usable trays, better bus routes, smaller administrations. • Green schools-custodians can be trained to manage energy costs and increase compost/recycling. • Establish standing quality public service councils.

4. SEIU Partners with School Districtsfor Better Outcomes • Rigorous standards and professional development in Montgomery County school for all employees. • Philadelphia schools trained security guards to provide positive reinforcement on behavior and dress (focus on teenage boys) and to do mediations. • SEIU Charter school in Chicago-joint project of AFT, SEIU and Johns Hopkins.

5. Winning for Workers (and communities) in Tough Times • Community Cash • Emergency Micro Loans • City worker homeowner policies • Better schedules • Onsite health clinics

6. Meeting Demand for New Revenue-Millage Increases • Developed People’s Budget in St. Pete • 4200 resident filled out paper and online surveys • 92% support foreclosure ordinance • 76% support modest increase in property taxes to maintain services • Media notes “Citizens call for higher taxes”

7. Meeting Demand for New Revenue-Fair Property Tax Appraisals • The rich and corporations hire attorneys to get a leg up in Florida’s property tax appeal system. • Palm Beach county disproportionately readjusts the home values of rich people’s homes. • District lost $11.2 million in revenue between 2009 and 2011, of which $9.8 million came from properties worth over $1 million. • We call on the VAB to increase transparency and make its process fairer for all .

8. New Revenue—Getting a Fair Deal from Banks • Swaps-Palm Beach Schools forced to overpay $16.7 million annually to Citibank and UBS. • The costs could climb to over $21 million per year if another toxic swap deal is triggered by the banks in summer of 2012.

9. New Revenue—Getting a Fair Deal from Banks • Community groups pressure local governments to set standards for the banks with whom they do business. • In Minneapolis, NOC pressured school board to open up payroll services (then held by Wells Fargo) out for competitive bid, which utilized community standards questionnaire and a public hearing. • Our schools local in MN is bargaining with employers over their banking relationships. Lower fees and borrowing costs help everyone.

10. New Revenue-Foreclosure Fees • Foreclosures cost localities a lot of money. • We propose ordinances that set standards for property upkeep, require banks to register vacant properties and to pay a fee for administration and maintenance. It also would sets penalties for lenders that fail to comply. • In addition, local governments should require all banks that they do business with to meet criteria for foreclosure prevention and make public information about underwater homes and foreclosure modification.

11. Summary • Workers must promote positive budget solutions that can save government money and improve services. • In addition to winning for members, we must be a voice for the common good—better schools and better neighborhoods. • We must be clear about the real reasons for our current economic crisis. • There is no way around it—government is underfunded and we need new and fair revenue solutions.