eNewsletter - May 29, 2009
SF Members Vote on Budget Contribution
Union Launches Six Month Campaign to Ensure Maintenance of Local Government Services, Jobs
Union-Supported Revenue Measure Passes in Hayward
AEA Speaks out at Budget Hearing, Launches Letter Writing and Sticker Campaign
Next Week! Rally to Save San Jose Jobs & Services on June 2
TAEA members negotiate against request for 10% Concessions
Delegate Election Results - 56th IFPTE Convention in Las Vegas
Next Weekend! Delegate Assembly is June 6
Take Action! Preserve Your Right to See Your Own Doctor if You Are Injured at Work
Save-The-Date! 2nd Annual South Bay BBQ, July 16!
SF Members Vote on Budget Contribution
Local 21 members in the City and County of San Francisco are voting on a tentative agreement allowing for a reasonable contribution on the part of Local 21 members to help resolve the City's growing budget deficit, which is projected at upwards of $400 million.
The agreement follows months of internal discussion among the union's SF Council, independent budget research, meetings among the union's membership, careful monitoring of other union agreements, and strategizing around approaches to generate additional monies through a ballot measure and reduction in contracting out. Last month, the SF Council voted to authorize a small committee of union and chapter leaders, made up of Local 21 President Dean Coate, SF VP Don Chan, Municipal Architects chapter President Glenn Hunt, IT Professionals chapter President Gus Vallejo, Local 21 Secretary Maria Ryan, Accountants and Auditors chapter VP Ted Wong, At-Large chapter President Mary Marzotto, Professional Engineers chapter President Tedman Lee, Local 21 Executive VP Wayne Lee, Local 21 Treasurer Willie Lim, and Executive Director Bob Muscat, to enter into informal discussions with the City. Since then, the committee has been reporting back to and receiving its direction from the Council.
After a number of meetings with the City, a tentative agreement has been reached where Local 21 contributes eight days of pay smoothed over two years, in exchange for eight days off over the same time period. This equates to a 1.75% temporary reduction in pay for the first year (equaling 5 days), and 1.25% in the second year (3 days). This is much less than the 3.5% the City had initially requested from Local 21. Through this exchange, the City saves more than $16 million over two years, and Local 21 members receive 8 days off, in addition to keeping all floating and legal holidays, vacation days, and other time off. Additionally, employees choose when they want to take the days off, which can be used in hourly increments and carried over if unused.
Most importantly, San Francisco members' contract is extended and unchanged for another year, from June 30, 2010, to June 30, 2011. This means all benefits and conditions of employment are protected for an additional year and we avoid negotiating a new contract early next year when the economy is expected to still be in a recession (the Pilot Wellness Incentive program - cash out of sick leave upon retirement - remains unchanged and sunsets on June 30, 2010).
Early on, Local 21 leaders felt strongly that any help the union gives would be contingent upon the City's willingness to meet certain criteria and develop a larger framework toward closing the budget gap. Some of the conditions which the City agreed to include:
- No new layoffs of Local 21 members through November 15, 2009. After November 15, the City must provide a minimum ten days notice to employees being bumped through the layoff process (in the last round of layoffs, some employees received no advance notice).
- The Mayor, his staff, the Board of Supervisors, and all unrepresented management will report in writing their givebacks to the City.
- The City will eliminate $25 million in general fund contracts and $13.5 million in COLAs for private contractors.
- Local 21 members retiring before July 1, 2012 will experience no loss in pension earnings.
- The Mayor must support a larger budget framework and tax revenue ballot measures.
- The City will use savings in enterprise funds to hire laid off employees where possible.
For more information on the tentative agreement and voting schedules, visit the union's Latest News webpage. The tentative agreement is endorsed by Local 21's SF Council.
TOP
Union Launches Six Month Campaign to Ensure Maintenance of Local Government Services, Jobs
"The union is as strong as its membership. Sometimes, it takes two arms to carry a heavy load...one is the membership and the other is the PAC." - Larry Wong, Immediate Past At-Large Vice President |
During the next six months, voters in Oakland and most likely San Francisco and San Jose will be asked to help maintain core local government services and jobs by passing revenue measures to help fill budget gaps. Hayward has already gone to the ballot and won passage of a small utility tax. Thanks to dozens of Hayward Local 21 members who volunteered in the campaign, additional layoffs are now much less likely. In addition to local revenue measures set for this summer and fall, other Bay Area communities are already planning initiatives for the June 2010 ballot. Next year we'll also see many people running for public office - the people who make the decisions that impact our jobs every day.
It's up to us to reach out to voters. Our polling indicates that most people feel strongly about maintaining local services, but if we don't distribute information and make phone calls on behalf of candidates and ballot measures we support, jobs and services will end up on the chopping block. |
Get Ready to Get Busy
On June 1, Local 21 will officially launch a member to member campaign to increase the number of people who contribute to the political action fund, the T.J. Anthony Fund, by 300 people by this October. We also want to increase the number of members who volunteer in upcoming elections. Contributions to T.J. Anthony help pay for telephones and mailings to reach our members, snacks for volunteers and efforts to reach voters in our own communities. You can donate to the T.J. Anthony Fund by contacting Isela Ramos, Political Organizer at 415.864.2100, or online through Local 21's Political Action webpage.
In Commemoration of T.J. Anthony Day: June 1, 2009
T.J. Anthony recognized both the importance of union representation and member participation in politics. He helped bring San Francisco legislative aides and personnel professionals into our local union.
A longtime City Hall staffer and gay civil rights activist, Anthony possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of the workings of city government, spending two years crafting and pushing forward a new city Charter that whittled down the document from 370 to 80 pages. A champion of government ethics, he wrote a measure in 1993 which banned office holders from having auxiliary funds that underwrote everything from community events to office equipment. Anthony was key in drafting legislation that established the City's needle exchange policy, Catastrophic Sick Leave Program, and the Human Resources Department. Anthony worked for two San Francisco Supervisors and on the campaigns of many candidates, served on the executive board of the state Democratic Party, and co-chaired the Northern California Coalition against Judge Robert Bork's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1989, he founded 'Men Who Care About Women's Lives,' a 1,200-member pro-choice group. Anthony died at the age of 37 at his San Francisco home from Hodgkin's disease. He left a legacy of passionate advocacy on behalf of gay rights and social justice.
(Bio excerpted from the SF Examiner)
TOP
Union-Supported Revenue Measure Passes in Hayward
Last week Hayward residents voted to pass Measure A, a utility tax that will raise revenues to sustain City services and help avoid additional layoffs and furloughs.
The measure calls for a 5.5 percent tax on electricity, natural gas, telephone, and cable bills for Hayward residents and businesses. It will generate about $13 million annually and close a projected $10 million to $12 million deficit next year.
The Mayor, City Council, and a coalition of City labor unions all actively supported the measure. Many of our members sacrificed their evenings and weekends for two months to phone bank and precinct walk in support of the measure. Special thanks goes to many of the Local 21 stewards and officers, including chapter President Jodi Pascual, VP Ramona Portillo, Secretaries Eleonor Hilario and Cheryl Gomez, and Treasurer Victoria Williams, who were instrumental in educating Hayward residents about the importance of the tax measure and securing Hayward's future.
To date the City has laid off 50 non-safety employees, and implemented two weeks of furloughs during FY 2008-2009. In February, Local 21 members voted to accept additional 28 additional hours in furloughs for the current fiscal year, and 104 hours in furloughs for FY 2009-2010. The passage of Measure A is expected to help the City avoid additional furloughs, layoffs, or other personnel and service cuts.
TOP
AEA Speaks out at Budget Hearing, Launches Letter Writing and Sticker Campaign
Nancy Ostrowski, Senior Representative joined a number of City Labor Alliance and community speakers at the San Jose City Council's Budget Hearing on May 11. Ostrowski addressed the Local 21 Association of Engineers and Architects' (AEA) budgetary concerns and reiterated the chapters' commitment to make fair and equitable sacrifices at the bargaining table. AEA has told the City they will answer the Mayor's demand for a one year contract extension with a "true zero" (no wage increase, no merit pay) wage increase. The parties are scheduled to meet again this week to formally hear the City's response.
Meanwhile, on May 27 AEA and other city workers began wearing stickers that state, "Save Quality Services... Keep Quality Workers... San Jose Can Do Better... We Care for our City and our Families" to draw attention to the need for a budget that recognizes the importance of the city services public employees work hard to provide. AEA members are also writing letters to City Council Members letting them know the dramatic impact proposed layoffs will have on services and the City's employees (and their families).
Are you a San Jose resident? Write a letter to your City Council person telling them why layoffs are bad for City residents! All letters should be emailed to Ostrowski nostrowski@ifpte21.org. Many of these actions could not have been possible without the leadership and coordination of AEA President John Mukhar and member Henry Servin.
TOP
Next Week! Rally to Save San Jose Jobs & Services on June 2
Join the City Labor Alliance, hundreds of City of San Jose workers, and community members in sending a message to Mayor Reed and City Council that we are united to save quality services and employees.
Our unions are making major sacrifices to save services and jobs, and we reject any attempts by the City to use the deficit to demand takeaways that permanently reduce wages, benefits, or pensions! Lunch will be available at 11:30am at the First Christian Church behind City Hall Plaza. Please RSVP to Carolina sjtemp@ifpte21.org to ensure enough lunches are available.
Be There! Tuesday, June 2, Noon-1pm at City Hall Plaza
TOP
TAEA members negotiate against request for 10% Concessions
Local 21 negotiators for Transportation Authority Engineers and Architects (TAEA) have met several times with the Valley Transit Authority (VTA) to address the agency's budgetary concerns. VTA claims layoffs of TAEA members will occur unless each bargaining unit gives up 10% in salary over the next 2 years. This level of concession can only be accomplished by adopting zero salary increases, zero step increases, and 12 mandatory furlough days for each year.
The Union has proposed language that prohibits the layoff of employees who could perform work being done by contractors. The chapter's next bargaining session is scheduled for Friday, May 29. The TAEA negotiators include chapter President Raj Sedhev, VP Marc Delong, Secretary-Treasurer Mike Aldea, and members Bob Magliocco, Sal Duckworth-Lanzo, Manjit Parhar, and Senior Representative, Nancy Ostrowski.
TOP
Delegate Election Results - 56th IFPTE Convention in Las Vegas
Ballots to elect delegates representing our local union at the IFPTE convention (August 10-13, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nevada) were counted in the Local 21 office on May 20-21. Thirty-one candidates appeared on the ballot, with the following top twenty vote-getters being elected as delegates (in no particular order):
SF VP Don Chan, SF Professional Engineers' chapter Executive Committee member Vivian Chow, Local 21 President Dean Coate, SF Technical Engineers chapter President Ramona Di Marco, SF Accountants and Auditors chapter President Roland Ditan, SF At-Large chapter Delegate Larry Griffin, SF At-Large chapter Delegate Marshia Herring, SF Professional Engineers' chapter Executive Committee member Adlai Jew, Golden Gate Bridge District Engineers' chapter Jeffrey Lee, SF Professional Engineers' chapter President Tedman Lee, Local 21 Executive VP Wayne Lee, Oakland VP Jeff Levin, Local 21 Treasurer Willie Lim, Local 21 VP for Legislative and Political Action Tom Manley, SF Professional Engineers' chapter Executive Committee member Kathleen Price, Local 21 Immediate Past President Lois Scott, SF At-Large Chapter Vice President Shirley Trevino, SF Field Operations chapter President Alan Wong, and union members Richard Isen and Florence Inserto.
Visit our website's Latest News section for more information and full election results.
TOP
Next Weekend! Delegate Assembly is June 6
The next Delegate Assembly will be on June 6 at the Downtown Oakland Marriott. Registration and 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.
TOP
Take Action! Preserve Your Right to See Your Own Doctor if You Are Injured at Work
As workers' compensation benefits and medical treatment continue to deteriorate under Governor Schwarzenegger's reform, injured workers are still able to find comfort in their right to see their own doctors for a work-related injury. But that too could vanish at the end of this year, unless we pass SB 186 (DeSaulnier), which would delete that sunset date and maintain the right to pre-designate our own doctor.
Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year. "If the proponents wish to try again next year to repeal the sunset, I encourage them to better demonstrate the need for this change," the Governor said in his veto message. It's time to take Schwarzenegger up on his challenge. If you've had a positive experience seeing your own doctor for a work-related injury, please email the California Labor Federation at info@calaborfed.org and let them know how doing so has improved your medical treatment, helped you get back on the job, or saved the system from conflict.
TOP
Save-The-Date! 2nd Annual South Bay BBQ, July 16!
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, Valley Transportation Authority Engineers and Architects, and Santa Clara Valley Water District's Professional Managers Association will be hosting a South Bay chapters' barbeque at 11:30am on Thursday, July 16 at a location TBA.
This event is being coordinated under the leadership of Local 21's South Bay VP Ananth Prasad and the South Bay Council. Like last year, each chapter will be responsible for coordinating a specific aspect of the BBQ. More information will be shared with all South Bay members in the coming weeks - stay tuned for an update at your next chapter meeting.
TOP
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
