The Assembly also included discussions on the Union's bylaws, finances, and other business. Local 21 President Dean Coate filled vacant positions on the Union's Executive Committee (EC) by appointing Dianna Butcher, City of San Jose Association of Engineers & Architects 1st VP, to the seat of At-Large VP on the Union's EC, and reassigning Local 21 Secretary, Maria Ryan, to the position of Executive VP on a temporary basis.

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San Leandro Chapter Ratifies New Contract
After months at the bargaining table, Local 21 members in the San Leandro City Employees Association voted to ratify a new one year contract, expiring on December 31, 2010.

One hundred and eighty members participated in the vote, which adopted provisions including furlough days once a month, two additional floating holidays, increases in limits for sick leave accrual and comp time, no wage increases, higher contributions to medical benefits along with increases in premiums paid to employees opting out of medical benefits, and the development of a second tier retirement plan where new hires have their retirement benefit based on their highest 36 months of pay, rather than 12 months. The new contract also allows for COPE contributions through payroll deduction.

Last year, San Leandro members voted to extend their contract for one year through December 31, 2009. That year, the Union also worked with the City to explore ways to close the City's then $11.4 million deficit, including offering early retirement incentives. Last April, the City offered these incentives to thirty employees, helping to reduce staffing levels without resorting to involuntary separations.

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Save the Date! AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka to Speak at Oakland Airport Rally, February 12
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka will visit Oakland to speak at the American Federation of Government Workers' (AFGE) rally supporting an organizing campaign for Transportation Security Officers.

The AFGE campaign is one of labor's top national targets, with more than 40,000 workers ready to join the labor movement. Officers at the Oakland Airport are enthusiastic about exercising their right to form a union, have a voice at work, and improve their own conditions as well as the safety of the flying public. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stripped these newly federalized workers of their rights, giving the new TSA sole discretion to decide the terms of employment of the security workforce. The Officers lack collective bargaining rights and protections of a union contract. They work under completely subjective terms of employment and, unlike other federal employees, do not have whistleblower protection and can be fired for any reason.

TSA workers have waged a tough multiyear fight to form a union and need your support in the home stretch! Please join us, greet President Trumpka, and rally to support our brothers and sisters at the Oakland Airport. The rally begins at 1 PM on Friday, February 12 at the Oakland Airport, Terminal 2 baggage claim area. Free shuttles will be available starting at 12:45 PM from the ILWU 6 Hall on Hegenberger to the airport to increase participation and avoid the hassle of airport parking. Free parking is available at the ILWU Hall. RSVP to the Alameda labor Council by calling 510-632-4242 ext. 231 or 224.

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Action Alert: Share Your Story and Help Save California's Paid Family Leave & Disability Programs
If you have ever used Paid Family Leave to care for an ailing family member, taken Pregnancy Disability Leave when you had a baby, or gone on disability leave to recover from an illness or injury, we need to hear from you. The Governor is planning a $500 million raid on the State Disability Insurance (SDI) fund, which pays for these vital programs, and we need to let him and the Legislature know how important these programs are to California's working families.

Email info@paidfamilyleave.org your stories about how the SDI fund has benefited you and your family.

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Union Plus Matching Donations Dollar-for-Dollar for Haiti Earthquake Relief
Maximize the power of your contributions to support Haiti earthquake relief efforts through Union Plus' matching contributions to the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center for Haitian workers. Union Plus has committed $100,000 through this dollar-for-dollar donation match to help Haitian earthquake relief efforts.

Despite the millions of dollars raised already, the people of Haiti continue to need our help. The Solidarity Center is providing immediate life-saving relief supplies including: food, clean water, medical supplies, blankets and tents to the Haitian people. Goods are currently being delivered to the Confederation of Haitian Workers Training Center, which is providing shelter, food, and medical assistance to more than 200 people.

Donate to Haiti Earth Relief Now, or send a check to: Solidarity Center Education Fund, Attn: Joan Welsh, 888 16th Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20006. Please designate "Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers" in the memo line of the check.

Union Privilege, founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986, develops and manages the Union Plus benefits program, which provide more than 50 money-saving benefits and services to union members and their families.

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Union Benefit: $2,500 Scholarships for Students
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.

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Save-The-Date! "Budget 101," a Hands-On Workshop for Local 21 Leaders and Interested Members on Understanding Public Budgets, February 20
As the economic crisis makes itself felt in cities and counties throughout the Bay Area, policy makers in many jurisdictions are calling for extreme measures ranging from layoffs and mandatory furloughs for public employees, to severe cuts to social service programs. In times like these, it's more important than ever for Local 21 members to be able to understand our city and county budgets, and have the skills to take proactive steps toward protecting local jobs and services.

I'm not a financial expert, what information do I need to understand my employer's budget? What is the real financial condition of my jurisdiction, and is there any "slack" in the budget? How can my chapter take steps toward identifying sources of revenue when budget cuts get deeper?

This workshop, led by Bob Brownstein, will include a discussion of how the public finance system works and how local government budgeting is done, with an emphasis on the practical challenges people face when they're trying to understand a local budget. It will also include hands-on work analyzing your own locality's budget, and tips on starting your chapter's own budget work group.

Guest instructor Bob Brownstein is the Policy Director of Working Partnerships USA, an organization that brings together community, labor, and faith groups to work for policies that address the needs of working people. Previously, he served as the Budget and Policy Director of the City of San Jose. Bob has addressed our Delegate Assembly and assisted us in budget analysis in Oakland and San Francisco.

Please join us! Saturday, February 20, 9 AM to 1 PM, Clarion Hotel, San Francisco Airport, 401 E. Millbrae Ave., Millbrae Space is limited, to R.S.V.P. please email Mandy Bratt, mbratt@ifpte21.org. For more information and a flyer for the training, visit Local 21's Latest News webpage.

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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, February 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, February 24 from Noon to 1 pm at the San Francisco Public Library at 100 Larkin St., Paley Room, 3rd floor (no food allowed).


• Thursday, February 25 from Noon to 1pm at the IFPTE Local 21 office, 675 N. First Street, Suite 715, San Jose (brown bag lunches are permitted).