These are pictures from the June 1st launching of the Reform Immigration For America campaign in New Orleans conducted jointly with Local 100 SEIU and New Orleans ACORN.

The event opened with press conferences around the nation. In New Orleans, it was at a Lowe's Home Improvement store with day laborers, who use the store site to find daily work.

Reform Immigration For America is trying to get Congress to pass immigration reform this year. It backs a "common-sense solution to our broken immigration system that strengthens equal opportunity and the rule of law, treats hardworking immigrant families with respect and dignity, and moves all communities and families in America forward together."

On May 20th, SEIU 100 signed a new pay scale for all employees at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Napoleonville, LA. All LPN's received an extra $1.50 per hour. CNA's and Dietary Cooks received $.50 more per hour, and if CNA's show up on time and work a full shift they receive another $1.00 per hour. Non-certified Aides, Dietary Aides, Laundry and Housekeeping received $.55 cents per hour.

These are the highest wages for workers we represent in Louisiana nursing homes, and the incentive pay for showing up on time is a first ever anywhere in Louisiana, which we hope to implement in all other nursing homes in the state.

Local 100 held it's annual Leadership Conference in Baton Rouge, LA, this past weekend. People came from all around to learn how to be more effective union leaders, catch each other up on their activities, swap stories and enjoy each other's company.

Here's what our Chief Organizer, Wade Rathke, wrote on his blog:

Baton Rouge Every year Local 100 has a Leadership School for our stewards, and this year we met at our union hall in Baton Rouge. More than 30 stewards came in filled with vim and vigor especially because of the recent election successes of the local in New Orleans and Dallas.

The meeting started with a bang as the Dallas delegation fired up the meeting with the report of their election victory from the day before when Local 100 won a mail ballot election for sanitation workers with the City of Dallas for 230 workers by the vote of 38-0! This victory followed three recent election victories in New Orleans for sanitation laborers, sanitation drivers, and custodial school workers, all of which are privately contracted now and in first contract bargaining.

Local 100 Members at Nexion Claiborne in Shreveport recently met to discuss a pay raise offer from the company, which operates one other nursing home in Shreveport.

Thanks to their participation, CNAs will get a 50-cent per hour wage increase, while housekeeping, laundry and cooks will get an additional 25 cents. They also agreed to work to unionize the other home.

In this photo, Alice Burney, LaDonna Atkins, Judy Henderson and Irene Coley show their strength in unity at the regular monthly meeting.

SEIU Local 100 monthly meetings in Shreveport are the last Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the union hall, 5000 Greenwood Road. For more information, call the Union at (318) 636-9027.