eNewsletter - October 24, 2008

CCWD Reaches Settlement after Three Bargaining Sessions
After only three bargaining sessions, Local 21 members at the Contra Costa Water District reached a tentative agreement on a new five year contract, expiring November 10, 2013. The agreement includes a 4.2% COLA in the first year, effective November 17, 2008, with subsequent annual COLAs based on the October Consumer Price Index (CPI), at a minimum of 2.5% and a maximum of 5%. The new agreement also outlines that both parties will conduct a salary survey for the purpose of equity adjustments for engineering classifications. In addition to the two economic issues, the agreement also includes 14 housekeeping clauses.

Much of the expedient settlement is attributed to the chapter's initial decision to opt for a long term contract that would prevent take-aways during a period where the District is likely to face ongoing economic hardships. In order to achieve this, the union's bargaining team prioritized their goals and reduced the overall number of proposals they put across the table.




Election Campaigns Gear Up for the Final Four!
With the election less than 10 days away, Local 21 is making a final push for our endorsed candidates and ballot measures in San Francisco, Oakland, and the East and South Bays.

In San Francisco, our candidates for the Board of Supervisors, Eric Mar, David Chiu, and John Avalos, are in neck-and-neck races with their opponents. Four key ballot initiatives we are supporting are also extremely close. They are:
  • Proposition A - Saves San Francisco General Hospital by allowing much needed earthquake safety improvements
  • Proposition N - Slightly increases the property transfer tax for properties worth more than $5M
  • Proposition O - Retains 911 funding
  • Proposition Q - Cut taxes for small businesses while making sure large businesses pay their fair share in payroll taxes
In Oakland, our union is working hard to defeat Measure OO, a budget buster that will take millions away from parks, senior services, and other programs, and to elect Rebecca Kaplan to the At-Large seat of the City Council.

A complete list of local, state, and national endorsements can be found on our web page.

We need your help! With such an important Presidential election before us, our challenge is not getting people out to vote as much as reminding them to vote on the key issues and candidates at the bottom of a very long ballot. Turnout is expected to set new records, making it imperative that we encourage people to finish the job and vote the entire ballot. Plug in to one of our Final Four events to help Get Out the Vote.




Final Four Events - Help Get Out The Vote!
Join us in walking door to door to distribute campaign information and deliver door hangers with our endorsements to labor households. We'll also be calling people to remind them to vote and make sure they know their polling place:
  • Saturday, November 1, 10am in San Francisco & 9am in Oakland
  • Monday, November 3, Walk from Noon-5pm & Phone from 5pm-8pm:
  • Tuesday, November 4 - ELECTION DAY, 6am-10am (Oakland), 10am-2pm, 2pm-5pm, 5pm-8:01pm
  • Bi-Lingual Spanish, Cantonese, and Russian speakers are especially needed. To volunteer, contact your Staff Representative or email Local 21 Political and Policy Director Rachel Richman.
Final Four Locations:




Local 21's Top of the Charts, 'Top 40' Campaign Stars
Thanks to the many Local 21 members who volunteered for phone banking, precinct walking, and campaigning.

San Francisco
Joannie Chang, At-Large chapter
Larry Wong, Engineers chapter & Local 21 At-Large VP
Mary Marzotto, At-Large chapter President*
Ken Nim, At-Large chapter
Dean Coate, IT Professionals chapter & Local 21 VP for Political and Legislative Action*
Steve Solnit, IT Professionals chapter Executive Board member
Wayne Lee, IT Professionals chapter Executive Board member*
Rosemary Bosque, Housing Inspectors chapter
Cassandra Calhoun, SF Accountants and Auditors chapter
Roland Ditan, SF Accountants and Auditors chapter President
George Gomez, SF Appraisers chapter
Larry Griffin, At-Large chapter
Nelson Lan, SF Chemists and Lab Professionals chapter
Bonnie Bompart, SF Chemists and Lab Professionals chapter President & Local 21 Secretary*
Valerie Mitchell, Golden Gate Bridge chapter VP, Allied Admin. unit
Alan Wong, Field Operations chapter President*
Cindy Ullmann, Rehabilitation Professionals chapter VP
Julie Ford, Appraisers chapter 2nd VP
Hakam Ibrahim, Appraisers chapter President
Sarah Larson, Rehabilitation Professionals chapter
Jo Elias-Jackson, IT Professionals chapter
Lois Scott, Municipal Planners chapter Secretary & Local 21 President
Adam Gubser, Municipal Planners chapter President
Willie Lim, Accountants and Auditors chapter VP & Local 21 Treasurer
Gus Vallejo, IT Professionals chapter VP
Michael McGuinness, At-Large chapter
Anthony Bazan, Chemists and Lab Professionals chapter Area VP
Chenxi Shi, Chemists and Lab Professionals chapter
Quansing Tu, Chemists and Lab Professionals chapter
Cal Broomhead, At-Large chapter
Florence Inserto, Rehab Professionals chapter & Local 21 San Francisco VP*
Francisco Mejia, Technical Engineers chapter*
Maria Ryan, Administrative Analysts chapter Secretary*

Oakland
Joyce Carlson, Engineers & Architects chapter VP
Chuck Johnston, Administrative & Professionals chapter
Bruce Levitch, Supervisors & Managers chapter VP, unit H
Elisa Marquez, Administrative & Professional chapter
Zeny Ramos, Supervisors & Managers chapter
Frank Foster, Supervisors & Managers chapter
Tom Manley, Supervisors & Managers chapter Membership Director*

* signifies members who have volunteered two or more times.




Oakland City Council approves Layoffs, Local 21 Continues to Fight
Late into the night on Tuesday, October 21, Oakland's City Council passed a budget for FY 2008-2009. The budget largely reflected Mayor Dellums' budget proposals, which called for layoffs, furloughs, and cuts to community services. The adopted budget includes:
  • City shutdowns of 1 day per month starting in November and a City-wide shutdown between December 26 to January 2 (reduced from Mayor's proposal of 1 day per week)
  • A 50% reduction in elected officials' discretionary funds
  • A reduction in City Council salaries by 5%
  • A reduction in the "Executive Office" budget of $430,000 (could come from either Mayor or City Administrator staff)
  • Shift of funding for Public Arts personnel to non General Fund sources
  • No COLA
  • $1 million in cuts to Non-Personnel costs
  • An increase in parking meter rates and street sweeping violations
Unfortunately, the proposal also included additional staffing cuts. Approximately 100 employees will be laid off (roughly 50 will be Local 21 positions), and 59 vacant positions will be eliminated. While Local 21 cannot bargain over the adoption of furloughs and layoffs, we can bargain over the impact of these decisions, and plan to do so immediately once additional information becomes available.

The City Council's actions reflect an unwillingness to meaningfully work with labor and save critical City jobs and services. Over the last three weeks, Local 21 has repeatedly presented the Council with cost-savings proposals, which the Council has failed to respond to. Had the Council been willing to make different policy decisions, as suggested only by Council member Desley Brooks, many additional jobs and services would have been saved.

Several Local 21 leaders were among hundreds speakers who spoke before the Council. Oakland Vice President Jeff Levin expressed the disillusionment, frustration, and anger felt by Local 21 members at being excluded form the process. He urged Council members to allocate some of the one-time revenues to saving jobs instead of dedicating them to cover fund deficits. Local 21 bargaining team member Judy Jackson spoke of the direct impact layoffs would have on the Equal Opportunity program and the work it does to support all City employees, which is suffering a devastating 33% cut in staffing. Holding an old copy of the Oakland Tribune, City Attorneys chapter President Diane Lewis reminded the Council that in 2002 the City had faced the same issue and chose to impose cuts on non-sworn employees while simultaneously granting the police pay raises.

As we approach Election Day, this weeks' events in Oakland emphasize the need for electing Council members, such as Rebecca Kaplan, who value our input and understand the importance of the work we do. It also underscores the need for much wider and stronger participation by all Local 21 members if we want to effectively fight for our jobs, incomes, and benefits -- especially given the challenges we have ahead of us with contract negotiations and an upcoming budget cycle.

In the coming weeks, Local 21 will be participating in the analysis and discussion of promoting retirement incentives, and will be working with the City to estimate how many employees may be interested in early retirement given fair incentives. We will also be opposing all attempts by the City to eliminate management leave and professional development allowances. For up-to-date information, visit our Oakland chapters webpage.




Local 21's Quarterly Magazine gets New Name and Look
Our union's quarterly publication just got a facelift! Previously known as the "Local 21 Pipeline," our newsletter is now titled "Twenty One." The Fall 2008 issue, which focuses on politics at the local, state, and national levels, is hot off the presses and on its way to our members' mailboxes. Can't wait for your copy to arrive by mail? Visit our website to download the PDF!

Have you recently moved and do not receive mail from our office? Please email Local 21 Membership and Dues Coordinator Daniel Foster with your new mailing address to stay up to date on union news and events. All members who have a current address on file will receive a copy of "Twenty One" before the end of the month.




Save-The-Date: South Bay Holiday Party
Local 21 members from the City of San Jose's Association of Engineers and Architects, Santa Clara County's Engineers and Architects Association, the City of East Palo Alto, and Valley Transportation Authority Engineers and Architects will be hosting a holiday party at 5pm on Friday, December 12 at Mayuri Indian Cuisine in Santa Clara. Stay tuned for more details about the event!




Union Benefit: Up to 40% off at the Movies
Local 21 Members are eligible for a variety of benefits under Union Privilege and Union Plus, a program developed by the AFL-CIO to provide quality products, discounts, and services to union members and their families. Union Plus offers range from legal services and insurance discounts to discounts on health, travel, and recreation.

One of the many benefits Local 21 members receive includes up to 40% off the box office price by purchasing movie tickets in advance. Discounted tickets are available for a number of nation-wide and local cinemas, and range from $1-5 dollars off each ticket depending on the theater and quantity purchased. Visit the Union Plus website for more information.




L21 Express is the bi-weekly email publication of IFPTE Local 21. Local 21 represents more than 7,000 Bay Area professional public employees. Main Office Phone: 415.864.2100 South Bay Phone: 408.291.2200