eNewsletter - April 3, 2009
¡Si Se Puede! Oakland member fight to save DIT jobs and WIN!
Contra Costa County Members Demand Recognition at Board of Supervisors Meeting
Local 21 to Participate in SCVWD CEO Recruitment
Union Hosts Worksite Membership Meetings on SF Budget - All SF Members Invited!
San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Members Begin Bargaining
This Weekend! Cesar Chavez Parade & Festival - April 4, 11am
Save-The-Date! Union Night with the San Francisco Giants - April 17, 7:15pm
Union Benefit: Online Tax Preparation Services
¡Si Se Puede! Oakland member fight to save DIT jobs and WIN!
Late Tuesday night, Oakland City Council members voted 8-0 to overturn the City's plan to layoff seven members in the Department of Information Technology on April 17, 2009. The City provided Local 21 with no notice and completely ignored our contract language, which requires 60-days notice. Local 21's message to Council was simple: Follow the rules and respect our contract! They got the message!
Thank you to all the members of Local 21 who turned out for the Council meeting, especially our members in IT, and many others who came to help save these jobs and to protect our contractual rights. This shows we can make a difference when we work together.
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Contra Costa County Members Demand Recognition at Board of Supervisors Meeting
Local 21 members came out in full force at the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meeting on March 31. Dressed in navy blue and wearing other symbols of solidarity, union members, staff, and other county employees filled the Board chambers to show that Local 21 stands together in its efforts to afford County employees the representation they are entitled to.
Local 21 Senior Representative Bob Britton spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. When Britton's name was called, the group rose in unison and stood behind him as he spoke about delays in recognizing Local 21 as the representative of over 900 mid-managers and professionals in Contra Costa County. He added that the County's exclusion of 269 employees from Local 21's bargaining unit, because of their "confidential" status, is a gross violation of state law. It is also another attempt on behalf of the County to further stall the recognition process.
David Twa, County Administrator, also spoke and suggested that confidential employees could organize, but would have to be in a separate bargaining unit. His sentiments at the meeting were contradictory to his letter to Local 21, which stated an inability to include confidential employees in any fashion.
Various Supervisors made recommendations that encourage dialogue and more meetings between Local 21 and Human Resources to resolve these issues expeditiously. Our next meeting with Human Resources is scheduled for April 6. For more information, visit the Contra Costa County Organizing webpage.
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Local 21 to Participate in SCVWD CEO Recruitment
At the April 1 Special Board Meeting, the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors (Board) voted 7-0 in favor of including labor and other stakeholders in the CEO recruitment and selection process that is currently underway. The stakeholder panel will include representatives from each of the Bargaining Units (3), Unrepresented (1), and a representative appointed by each of the SCVWD Board (7) for a total of 11 advisory panel members. The Board's action follows MMA's letter to the Board on March 24 for the Board to consider and take action on MMA's request to include labor in the CEO hiring and selection process. Stakeholder participation in the process will provide the Board valuable feedback and perspective on CEO candidates.
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Union Hosts Worksite Membership Meetings on SF Budget - All SF Members Invited!
Local 21 is committed to maintaining frequent and transparent communication with our San Francisco members about the City's projected $575 million budget gap, layoffs, and other related developments as they occur.
In addition to working closely with other City unions, the Mayor's office and Board of Supervisors, and various community representatives, Local 21 has been proactive in engaging its own independent Budget Specialist to examine the City's projected deficit and identify potential sources of additional revenue. The union has also been actively working to investigate how the Federal Stimulus package and State monies intended for San Francisco will impact the City's general fund.
In an effort to expand our communications beyond the union's newsletters, San Francisco Budget webpage, and chapter meetings, and gather more in-depth input from members across classifications and worksites, Local 21 is hosting a series of Noontime membership meetings in worksites across the City. To date, one meeting has already been held at San Francisco General Hospital.
All San Francisco members are invited to attend, and members working in locations where meetings are being held will receive email reminders with event details and room information several days prior to each meeting:
SF Budget Meeting Schedule (more dates and locations to be added):
Monday, April 6 - 1380 Howard Street, 4th Floor
Tuesday, April 7 - San Francisco Airport, Terminal 2
Wednesday, April 8 - Millbrae (PUC facility at 1000 El Camino Real)
Monday, April 20 - One South Van Ness, Atrium Conference Room
Wednesday, April 22 - CCS, 1595 Quintara Street
Tuesday, April 28 - Southeast Treatment Facility, 750 Phelps
Thursday, May 28 - Laguna Honda Hospital
For more information, contact the union office at 415.864.2100
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San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Members Begin Bargaining
The MOUs representing Managers & Supervisors, Professional & Technical employees, and Engineers & Architects at the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency are set to expire June 30, 2009. In an effort to reach a new agreement by summer, Local 21 and the Redevelopment Agency began bargaining on Wednesday, April 1. The first session primarily addressed setting ground rules for negotiations and scheduling the upcoming bargaining sessions.
Prior to the first negotiation session, the union distributed surveys to gauge members' priorities and concerns, and is in the process of identifying top bargaining goals. Local 21 bargaining team members and alternates include San Francisco Redevelopment Employees Association (SFREA) President Stanley Muraoka, Vice President Ricky Tijani, Treasurer Kevin Masuda, Executive Committee member Mike Grisso, chapter members Amy Neches, Erin Carson, Gabriela Cardona, and Su-Syin Chou, and Staff Representative Steve O'Keefe.
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This Weekend! Cesar Chavez Parade & Festival - April 4, 11am
San Francisco's annual Cesar E. Chavez Parade & Festival will be taking place this Saturday, April 4 in the Mission District. Begin assembling at 11am at Dolores Park near 19th and Dolores Streets. The parade will begin at Noon, and end at 24th and Harrison Streets, where a street fair will continue until 5pm. For more information, visit the parade's website.
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Save-The-Date! Union Night with the San Francisco Giants - April 17, 7:15pm
Union members across Northern California are invited to attend union appreciation night at AT&T Park, with the San Francisco Giants (the opponent that evening is the Arizona Diamondbacks). A special tickets package for union members includes admission to the game and a drink voucher at a pre-game party in Scoreboard Plaza.
When: Friday, April 17, 2009
Time: The pre-game party begins at 5:15pm in Scoreboard Plaza, and the game starts at 7:15pm.
Where: AT&T Park
For questions or to purchase tickets ($17 per person), contact Joyce Satow at steward2004@aol.com or call 650.296.9687.
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Union Benefit: Online Tax Preparation Services
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 a 10%-15% discount on online state and federal income tax preparation and filing services through Union Plus Turbo Tax. Some members may be eligible for free tax preparations services based on their income. Visit the Union Plus Tax Preparation Services webpage for more information on this and other benefits.
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L21 Express is the 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
