eNewsletter - May 1, 2009
Oakland Enters 11th Hour as City Threatens Impasse, Mayor Presents Budget Union Calls Rally for Jobs and Services on May 5, 3:45pm
San Francisco Budget Update
Local 21 Making News in Contra Costa County!
Save-The-Date! Employee Free Choice Act 24-Hour Vigil - May 6 & 7
Save-The-Date! Local 21 Speaker Series: Coping with Stress Caused by the Downturn - May 15, Noon
Special Election May 19 - Don't Forget to Vote!
Save-The-Date! Delegate Assembly is June 6
Watch out for Local 21's Quarterly Magazine - Twenty One
Oakland Enters 11th Hour as City Threatens Impasse, Mayor Presents Budget Union Calls Rally for Jobs and Services on May 5, 3:45pm
Last week Local 21 hosted four town hall-style budget meetings at various worksites across Oakland. Hundreds of members attended the noontime and evening meetings, where the union's bargaining team shared information, answered questions, and received feedback from the membership about happenings at the bargaining table and in the budget process.
Last week the union and City hit another vital junction - the City is threatening impasse, and Oakland's lead negotiator will be seeking authority from the City Council to present Local 21's bargaining team with a "last, best, and final offer." "Impasse" is when a deadlock or stalemate in bargaining is declared by one or both parties. A declaration of impasse is usually followed by various resolution procedures, or unilateral action by an employer. In Oakland's case, impasse would mean that the City would present the union with its "last, best offer," and the union would have the option of taking that offer or having a 10% cut unilaterally imposed by the City.
May 5 will be a critical day for Oakland members. The City Council will be receiving Mayor Dellums' FY 2009-2011 budget, which will recommend hundreds of layoffs, no overtime pay, and a 10% pay cut for non-safety personnel (this includes an additional 5% employee contribution to retirement). Local 21, SEIU, and independent budget specialist Bob Brownstein have presented City Administrator Dan Lindheim and various City Council members with our own alternative Oakland budget, which avoids drastic cuts to public services, jobs, benefits, and rights, and identifies multiple under-utilized revenue sources.
Come to Council Chambers at 3:45pm on Tuesday, May 5 and tell the Mayor and Council that Local 21 members deserve a fair contract and takeaways cannot be the only solution to close the $83 million deficit! Wear your UNITY or union t-shirts, buttons, and stickers! The Mayor will deliver his new budget at 4pm, and the County Council will vote to offer early retirement incentives at 6pm. We must stand united to defend our jobs and rights!
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San Francisco Budget Update
Although the City and County of San Francisco's projected budget deficit for FY 2009-2010 has been reduced from $575 million to $434 million because of an influx of monies from the Federal Stimulus Package, a decrease in expected State funding reductions, and an increase in Federal Medicaid Assistance, the City has a long way to go to close its budget gap.
Local 21's San Francisco members have not made any decisions or entered into formal negotiations with the City over concessions to help close the budget gap, but have been diligent in developing a framework that will facilitate members in making an informed and unified decision, when that day comes.
Last Tuesday, at a special meeting of Local 21's San Francisco Council, the group authorized the formation of a small committee "to enter into discussions with the City using discussion concepts identified by Local 21's membership." The small committee met with the City on Wednesday to discuss concepts which included a reduction in expenditures on PSCs, implementation of a hiring freeze, longer notification periods for employees bumped through the layoff process, and theoretical furlough days. If and when Local 21 receives any proposals from the Mayor's office, Local 21's committee will take those proposals back to the union's San Francisco Council. The Council will be holding another special meeting on Friday, May 1 to touch base and discuss future directions. In the event that any tentative agreement is reached, it would not be final without a secret ballot vote and approval of the membership.
In related efforts, our union has been a key player among labor and other stakeholders in promoting "big picture" discussions through a Budget Strategy group that seeks to strengthen the City's budget process. We have also been hosting Budget Road Show meetings at a number of worksites to better address the issues, concerns, and priorities of our members.
Because few unions have reached agreements with the City, Local 21 is also continuing to monitor developments and discussions between the City and other labor groups. Any help Local 21 members may decide to provide the City has to be measured against the willingness of other unions to do the same, as well as the City's own readiness to agree to terms set by Local 21.
For detailed information on Local 21's efforts to mitigate the impact of the budget deficit, go to Local 21's SF Budget Page. Visit the page for regular updates, budget "blogs," news, documents from the City, and other communications including the April 2009 CityLine newsletter.
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Local 21 Making News in Contra Costa County!
On April 18, the Contra Costa Times reported on the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint Local 21 filed against Contra Costa County with the State Public Employment Relations Board.
The union has been leading an organizing campaign among County professionals and mid-managers for the past year. Although the Union gained informal recognition in January, the County has created every obstacle imaginable to unlawfully delay the full recognition process and collective bargaining rights. The union's complaint is based on the County's attempts to prevent employees from exercising their right to organize, as well as unauthorized delays and bad faith bargaining over the Union's final bargaining unit composition.
For more information read the Times article, the last issue of the Local 21 Express, or visit the chapter's webpage.
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Save-The-Date! Employee Free Choice Act 24-Hour Vigil - May 6 & 7
It's a critical moment in history for California workers. Anti-union forces are spending millions of dollars to stop the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) from passing because they don't want workers to have the freedom to join and form unions. Now is the time to make our voices heard!
The San Francisco Labor Council is organizing a 24 hour vigil at San Francisco's new Federal Building at 7th and Mission Streets. Please join your fellow Local 21 members at the vigil from 4:30-6:30pm on May 6 during a press conference, and Noon-2pm on May 7 for a rally.
Can't attend the vigil? Support the EFCA and call Senator Dianne Feinstein today at 1.866.207.2060. Urge her to back this important measure so we can rebuild California's middle class! You can also email the Senator at senator@feinstein.senate.gov
Special thanks to Local 21 members in the San Francisco Board of Supervisors chapter who wrote letters to Senator Feinstein last Friday: Alexa Delwiche, Alisa Furuzawa, Frances Hsieh, and Linda Laws. Their hand-written letters will send a strong message that California union members support the EFCA! Want more information on the EFCA and why it's important to every Local 21 member? Visit the EFCA section of our website.
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Save-The-Date! Local 21 Speaker Series: Coping with Stress Caused by the Downturn - May 15, Noon
All members are invited to the fourth installment in Local 21s Speaker Series with Ksiel Sztundel, MSW. Sztundel will speak to us about tools and resources available to Local 21 members to help them address the impact of the economy on their personal and professional lives.
Friday, May 15, Noon at Local 21's main office in San Francisco. Space is limited so please R.S.V.P. to 415.864.2100 or union21@ifpte21.org. Lunch will be served. For more information, visit the Latest News section of our website.
A separate session will be scheduled later this month in our San Jose office.
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Special Election May 19 - Don't Forget to Vote!
Local 21's Executive Committee made a series of endorsements for California's May 19 Special Election:
Proposition 1A: Budget limits - VOTE NO! NO! NO!
Proposition 1B: Education Funding - VOTE YES!
Proposition 1C: Lottery Based Borrowing - No Recommendation
Proposition 1D: Diverting Children's Services Funding - VOTE NO!
Proposition 1E: Diverting Mental Health Services Funding - VOTE NO!
Proposition 1F: Elected Officials' Salaries - No Recommendation
Visit Local 21's Political Action page for more information about these ballot measures. Not registered to vote? Fill out a voter registration form online and mail it in by Monday, May 4.
Attention City of Hayward Residents:
Measure A: Protect Hayward's Future - VOTE YES!
Measure A will enact a Utility Users Tax and will generate much needed revenue for the City and prevent devastating cuts to services.
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Save-The-Date! Delegate Assembly is June 6
The next Delegate Assembly will be on June 6 at the Downtown Oakland Marriott. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8:30 am, and the Assembly starts at 9 am. All delegates and any members interested in attending should R.S.V.P. to Mandy Bratt mbratt@ifpte21.org. More information about the Assembly agenda will be shared as it becomes available.
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Watch out for Local 21's Quarterly Magazine - Twenty One
Our union's quarterly publication is hot off the presses and on its way to your mailbox! The Spring 2009 issue of Twenty One focuses on the economy at the local and state levels, highlights Local 21 chapters' efforts to navigate hard times, and provides an update on the union's organizing efforts in Contra Costa County. Have you recently moved and do not receive mail from our office? Please email Local 21 Membership and Dues Coordinator Daniel Foster dfoster@ifpte21.org with your new mailing address to stay up to date on union news and events.
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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
