Oakland Bargaining Bulletins 1-21
Bargaining Bulletin #21 - July 22, 2009
We Have a Contract!!! Ratification Meetings Friday 7/24 & Monday 7/27 Bargaining Bulletin #20 - June 17, 2009 Bargaining News: Discussions on Retirement Contributions Continue & TA on Non-Econ Bargaining Bulletin #19 - May 21, 2009 How much does the Union have to give? Bargaining Bulletin #18 - April 30, 2009 City threatens IMPASSE Bargaining Bulletin #17 - April 17, 2009 Local 21 to the City: 'EVERYONE MUST SHARE IN THE PAIN!' Bargaining Bulletin #16 - April 8, 2009 Local 21 Fights City Demands for 10% Givebacks Bargaining Bulletin #15 - March 25, 2009 - Contract Negotiations Continue
After much foot dragging on the part of the City and almost a year at the bargaining table, Local 21 is finally seeing some progress on "clean up" and non-economic issues. However, the City is still demanding substantial concessions on major economic issues
Bargaining Bulletin #14 - Febrary 3, 2009 - Contract Negotiations Continue Bargaining Bulletin #13 - January 21, 2009
City Budget Update: 5 Year Shortfall Projected - On January 12, the City Council held its first budget workshop for the FY 2009-11 budget cycle. The Mayor's Office provided a "5-year Financial Plan" that outlined worsening shortfalls, with a General Fund deficit of $50 million predicted in FY 09-10, growing to $58 million in FY 10-11. Bargaining Bulletin #12 - December 1, 2008 Bargaining Bulletin #11 - November 3, 2008 Bargaining Bulletin #10 - August 29, 2008 Local 21 Perseveres. Local 21's bargaining team met with City Negotiator Wayne Heine on Monday, August 25. Due to illnesses within the City's negotiating team, bargaining had been cancelled for the previous two weeks. Bargaining Bulletin #9 - August 5, 2008
Local 21 Back at the Table - After a hiatus lasting almost two months, Local 21 and the City of Oakland are back at the table! Bargaining Bulletin #8 - July 14, 2008
Exactly one week after the expiration of Local 21's contract, the union's entire bargaining team met with the City's Chief Negotiator Bargaining Bulletin #7 - June 25, 2008
Council Approves Furlough; Local 21 Members Speak Out Bargaining Bulletin #6 - June 13, 2008
After almost a one month hiatus, the entire Local 21 bargaining team had their 6th negotiation session with the City of Oakland on Monday June 9, 2008. Although brief, the negotiations showed promise in moving forward after several months of attempts on behalf of the City to stonewall and divide Local 21's bargaining table and membership. Bargaining Bulletin #5 - June 6, 2008
With less than one month until the expiration of our MOU, the City continues to attempt to divide Local 21's bargaining team and delay negotiations. Although we have not officially sat at the negotiating table with the City for over three weeks due to cancellations on the part of the City, Local 21's bargaining team has been proactive in trying to resolve these issues so we can negotiate a new contract in good faith. Oakland Bargaining Bulletin #4 - May 15, 2008
With barely 45 days left until the expiration of our MOU and mounting unsolved budget problems, the City:

Has threatened to break off negotiations,

Continues to insist that Local 21 bargain at 2 separate tables, and

Refuses to commit to honoring our contract after June 30th if negotiations are not completed

Oakland Bargaining Bulletin #3 - May 8, 2008
Local 21 and the City of Oakland held their third bargaining session on Monday, May 5th. The half-day session, which continued to focus on ground rules for bargaining, showed movement on some issues, but also highlighted the City's increasingly divisive and poorly informed decisions. Oakland Bargaining Bulletin #2 - April 24, 2008
At the second bargaining session between Local 21 and the City of Oakland on April 21st, the main topic of discussion continued to be Ground Rules. Both sides have presented proposals which address issues ranging from protocol for meetings to deadlines for submitting proposals, and shape how bargaining will take place. Ground rules must be mutually agreed upon and are applied to both parties. Oakland Bargaining Bulletin #1 - April 7, 2008
Local 21 officially began bargaining with the City of Oakland on Thursday, April 3, 2008! The half-day session consisted of introductions, opening statements, and discussing ground rules for bargaining.

Latest News

Local 21 Budget Alert It's time to show up & stand up for budget common sense in Oakland!

Tuesday February 16, 5 PM
Oakland Council Chambers, City Hall

Local 21 Budget Alert flier

Local 21-Oakland Tentative Agreement Vote Result
92% of Local 21 members at the City of Oakland overwhelmingly approved the Tentative Agreement.

Thanks go to Election Committee volunteers Jeff Levin, Renee Sykes, Hamid Ghaemmaghami, Robert Newman, and Moises Montoya, who tallied the ballots during the evening of July 27.

For more details on the agreement, please read the following documents:
Tentative Agreements Part 1
Tentative Agreements Part 2
Tentative Agreements Part 3

Alameda County Central Labor Council Responds to City's Impasse Threat, May 18, 2009

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Local 21 Action at City Hall
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - 4-7pm

Mayor Dellums included many of our proposals for savings and revenue increases in his budget. Now, it's up to the City Council to include the practical ideas we developed to help close the budget gap. The City is facing an $87 million budget deficit and may add more shutdown days, closing the City every Friday from May 22-June 30!

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May 1, 2009
Frequently Asked Questions: Impasse & Strike Vote

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Mayor's Budget Rollout & City Council Meeting

Stand UP! Come to the Mayor's Budget Rollout & City Council Meeting and Raise Your Voice for a Fair Contract and an Oakland Values Budget

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
3:45pm - 6pm Budget plan presented
6pm- ? City Council votes on early retirement plan
Oakland City Hall
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City Survey of Interest in Early Retirement Incentives: Frequently Asked Questions

On Friday, April 17, the City sent notices to all "retirement-eligible" employees regarding a survey it is conducting to gauge interest in an early retirement incentive program (CalPERS' "Golden Handshake"). Notices were sent to employees who are at least 50 years old and have a minimum 5 years of city service.

The Union strongly urges members to respond to this survey, particularly if you think you would take advantage of a retirement incentive, were it offered. An effective retirement incentive program will save the City millions of dollars and reduce the need for layoffs.

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions:
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Local 21 All-Membership Town Hall Budget Meetings
April, 2009

Local 21 has been proactive in engaging our own Budget Specialist to examine the City's deficit and identify potential sources of additional revenue. A year after starting contract negotiations, we're still busy at the bargaining table and in Council chambers.

• Wednesday, April 22, Noon - 1:30pm
  150 Frank Ogawa Plaza 6th floor cafeteria


• Thursday, April 23, Noon - 1:30pm
  250 Frank Ogawa Plaza 6th floor cafeteria


• Thursday, April 23, 5:30pm - 7pm
  City Hall Hearing Room #2


• Wednesday, April 29, 11:30am - 1pm
  Edgewater Ready Room

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Local 21 Publishes Report on Impact of Federal Stimulus Funding to the City of Oakland
April 1, 2009

TO: Oakland Budget Labor Working Group
FR: Joe Brenner, IFPTE Local 21
RE: Federal Stimulus Funding to City of Oakland

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City Council Budget Meeting,
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 - 6pm

With NO ADVANCE NOTICE to the Union, the City wants to lay off a number of our members in the IT Department. Once this happens, if you want your computer fixed, you will have to bring it to the IT Department yourself. The proposed layoffs are even more surprising because:
A. They only save $200,000 this year, and
B. The City continues to have no plan for dealing with the budget problem.

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Budget Briefing Handouts, March 11, 2009

Local 21's CAT and bargaining team met with Oakland City Administrator Dan Lindheim on March 11, 2009. Lindheim presented the group with a comprehensive budget briefing.

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Local 21 Leaflets Mayors' State of the City Event

Can we improve the State of the City? YES WE CAN! We're All in This Together & Everyone Must Share in the Solution - Oakland's budget isn't just about accounting; it embodies the values and priorities of the Mayor and City Council, and should address the needs of all Oakland residents...

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Oakland Members Take a Stand for City Services
On Tuesday, December 9 close to 275 Local 21 members at the City of Oakland gathered to take a stand against layoffs and city-wide shutdowns. The noon-time rally featured speakers from Local 21, SEIU, and the Alameda Labor Council, and ended in a march through Oaklands City Hall.

Event Details
See photos