Union Responds to San Francisco's Threats of Implementing a 37.5 Hour Workweek
IFPTE's Junemann Appointed by President Obama to New National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations
Union Benefit: $2,500 Scholarship Deadline Approaching!
Local 21 Participates in SFPUC's Celebration of Black American History Month
Save-The-Date! How to Reduce Your Stress - SF & East Bay Workshops
Union Responds to San Francisco's Threats of Implementing a 37.5 Hour Workweek
Just fifteen days ago, Mayor Newsom used the San Francisco Chronicle to announce his plan to unilaterally implement a 37.5 hour workweek across the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF). Without fully discussing alternatives to closing the budget gap with city unions, the City plans to issue layoff notices to 10,000 to 15,000 employees citywide on Friday, March 5, effective on May 7. According to the City, a majority of those employees would be immediately rehired in a part-time status at 37.5 hours per week.
Implementing a 37.5 hour workweek without agreement from city employees would not only be a violation of our contract, but logistically impossible for the City to implement.
Since first hearing about the Mayor's plan, Local 21 and other city unions, under the umbrella of the San Francisco Labor Council's Public Employees Committee (PEC), have been working together to stop the Mayor from acting unilaterally until each of the unions, including Local 21, has an opportunity to speak to their members to determine what they are willing to do to help the City close its $522 million budget gap.
The PEC met with the Mayor and his staff on a few occasions in the last three weeks to discuss a comprehensive framework for addressing the deficit, including reigning in uncontrolled spending on Personal Service Contracts (PSCs), increasing city efficiencies in purchasing, and developing and supporting a revenue measure on the November ballot. All PEC unions will fight unconditional, unilaterally implemented takeaways that the City proposes regardless of the severity of the deficit.
The PEC has legal opinions from Local 21 and other union attorneys and is prepared to pursue legal avenues if an alternative agreement cannot be reached. Additionally, Local 21 and the PEC will be hiring an economist to validate the City's budget projections and identify alternatives to the draconian cuts the Mayor is threatening. Local 21 is also hiring a public relations consultant to assist us in what has become a public debate, especially since the Mayor has unfortunately chosen the media as his vehicle to make personnel announcements and insult city employees' maturity and commitment to providing quality public services.
Local 21 is not top-down, and any offers to help in the form of employee concessions must come from our members. Local 21 is hosting a series of membership meetings throughout the month of March at worksites across San Francisco. The goal of the "Budget Roadshow: a Tale of Two Cities" meetings are to share information with the membership, gather feedback, answer questions, and gain input surrounding what our Union's priorities should be as discussions with Mayor continue. Meetings will commence next week, and be scheduled to take place at over 15 locations. A full list of meetings will be posted to the Special San Francisco Budget section of our website by Friday.
"The deficit is severe and we're willing to talk to the City about the best approach to closing this historic budget gap. A complicated problem is best solved using a cooperative approach, not attempting to side step union contracts requiring a 40 hour workweek," said Local 21 Executive Director Bob Muscat. "Last year our members agreed to eight (five and three days over two years) furlough days without pay. There is a limit to the sacrifices that can be asked of them and their families when the City has much room to improve the way it's spending money. We're not giving the Mayor a blank check. He has to stop finding new ways to spend money the City doesn't have, and reduce the $1.4 billion spent every year on outsourcing."
While CCSF employees are scheduled to receive layoff notices this Friday, we ask all members to attend upcoming membership meetings to gain information about new developments, and share feedback about what our Union's priorities and guiding principles should be going forward as we and the PEC continue our informal discussions with the City and attempt to find a resolution. TOP
IFPTE's Junemann Appointed by President Obama to New National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations
The White House announced that President Obama appointed IFPTE President Gregory Junemann to a national council charged with improving labor relations in the federal sector. Junemann is one of only two AFL-CIO leaders appointed to the newly created panel. The National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations was created in 2009 by executive order. The Council is tasked with advising the President on matters involving labor-management relations in the executive branch.
"I am truly honored that an IFPTE representative was named to this panel. I believe that it is recognition of the critical role our members play in the Federal Government and the growing presence our union has in numerous government agencies," said President Junemann.
For more information, read the press release.
TOP
Union Benefit: $2,500 Scholarship Deadline Approaching!
Our International Union, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) has established a scholarship program for students who have demonstrated skills through academic achievement and service to their school and community. Last year, the child of a Local 21 member was a lucky recipient of an IFPTE scholarship.
IFPTE will be awarding three college scholarships of $2,500 each to children or grandchildren of IFPTE members who wish to continue their education beyond high school, whether in public and private colleges and universities, in community colleges, or in technical institutes. The scholarship awards are designed to be used in the 2010 school year and may not be used retroactively or prospectively. Winners will be selected based on their academic achievement, an essay submission, and their school/community activities.
Visit the IFPTE website for more information and application details. All applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2010.
TOP
Local 21 Participates in SFPUC's Celebration of Black American History Month
Union members and staff attended the 6th Annual Celebration of Black American History Month on Friday February 24 in San Francisco. The event, hosted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), featured guest speakers including Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, SFPUC General Manager Ed Harrington, and Fred Blackwell, Redevelopment Agency Director. The event also raised money for the American Red Cross.
A number of Local 21 members were in attendance including Shamica Jackson, Bonita McGee, Pauson Yun, Karen Frye, Norma Nelson, Don Chan, Marshia Herring, Wendy Zambrano-Mah, Morris Green, and Lock Kwan.
TOP
Save-The-Date! How to Reduce Your Stress - SF & East Bay Workshops
Do you find yourself adjusting to layoffs, worrying about the reduction in your investments, watching home equity disappear, maxing out credit cards, and struggling to make ends meet? Learn how to reduce stress in your life by attending these free classes for Local 21 members. The sessions, led by Kitty Costello, M.A., MFT and Richard Epstein, PhD, MFT, will take place on:
- Monday, March 8 from Noon to 1 pm at the Alameda County Law Library, Conference Room #3, 125 12th St., Oakland (brown bag lunches are permitted).
- Wednesday, March 24 from Noon to 1 pm at the San Francisco Public Library at 100 Larkin St., Paley Room, 3rd floor (no food allowed).
TOP
L21 Express is the bi-weekly email publication of IFPTE Local 21. Local 21 represents more than 8,000 Bay Area professional public employees. Main Office Phone: 415.864.2100 South Bay Phone: 408.291.2200
