eNewsletter - June 12, 2009
Delegate Assembly Report Back: All Eyes on Economy, Politics
SF Members Ratify Agreement by Large Margin
Oakland members organize Special Election phone banks - Vote YES on C, D, E & F!
Action Alert: Call Your Legislator and Stop the State Grab of Local Government Funds
IFPTE President Greg Junemann Announces Candidacy for AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
Save-The-Date! Second Annual South Bay BBQ, July 16!
Delegate Assembly Report Back: All Eyes on Economy, Politics
Local 21's June Delegate Assembly was a huge success! Over 80 members and delegates heard from special guest speaker Bob Brownstein, former City of San Jose Budget Director and current Policy Director of Working Partnerships in the South Bay, on the economic challenges facing our union. Brownstein specifically spoke on various activities chapters could engage in to affect economic outcomes in their jurisdictions during difficult economic times. He also touched upon the need to monitor the budget throughout the year, and offered practical ways to begin such a daunting process including learning more about budget processes, getting involved in politics, and supporting elected leaders who make fiscal decisions.
During the assembly's business meeting, Maura Baldocchi, Local 21 Bylaws Committee Chair and At-Large Board member of the San Francisco Official Court Reporters Association, gave an update on the local's bylaws revision process and spoke to Delegates about their upcoming duty to read the modified bylaws and forward them to their membership for a vote. Delegates also reviewed and approved the local's FY 2009-2010 operating budget, and officially welcomed the Professional Managers Association (PMA) from Santa Clara Valley Water District to Local 21. Martin Gamez, PMA chapter President, addressed the assembly and thanked everyone for their warm welcome.
The assembly also included a presentation on the T.J. Anthony Political Action Fund and the importance of inserting ourselves into our jurisdictions' political processes, and an overview of Local 21's research on general Bay Area economic trends and fiscal and policy-based research on jurisdictions where Local 21 members are employed. The event closed with a panel discussion with John Mukhar (AEA, City of San Jose), Christia Mulvey (Oakland Administrative & Professionals chapter), and Mary Marzotto (San Francisco At-Large chapter) on how members in each jurisdiction have responded to their employers' budget crisis and request for concessions. Panelists spoke about how their chapters and leadership developed and executed strategies aimed at preserving the interests of members, and what lessons were learned in the process.
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SF Members Ratify Agreement by Large Margin
Local 21 is pleased to announce that 1,691 members (88%) at the City and County of San Francisco voted to accept the tentative agreement between Local 21 and the City, ratifying the contract extension and amendment. In total, 1,928 ballots were cast (64% of our CCSF membership), with 236 no votes (12%).
Strategic direction in the negotiations between Local 21 and the City was the responsibility of our San Francisco Council; they devoted many hours to reach an agreement that received an exceptionally high level of member support. In the actual meetings with the City, a smaller group of Local 21 representatives did an excellent job negotiating in accordance with the Council's direction. The agreement contributes over $16 million dollars in savings over two years to the City and we hope it will help save services and turn around our local economy. We are relieved there can be no layoffs of Local 21 members through November 15, 2009, and would like to see some of our laid-off members returned to work.
Next Steps: We will be working to fully implement the agreement as intended and insure there are no logistical or other unanticipated problems. The agreement calls for provisions such as a joint labor-management committee on contracting out, a report on contributions to the City from the Mayor, his staff, the Board of Supervisors, and unrepresented management employees, as well as other items that will need follow up. The union will carefully monitor the final budget deliberations between now and July 1. We are also planning discussions with Local 21 leaders about longer term strategic options that take into consideration various possible political changes and economic developments. Over a year ago, we engaged public budget experts to advise and train us in anticipation of the economic downturn. We want to continue looking ahead and do all we can to be prepared during these uncertain times.
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Oakland members organize Special Election phone banks - Vote YES on C, D, E & F!
Community leaders, labor, business and elected officials are working together to preserve essential services in the City of Oakland during this unprecedented economic crisis. We must reach voters starting the week of June 22 to urge support for essential city services like public safety, after- school programs, senior centers, parks, libraries, and public service infrastructure. These measures will raise $6-8 million to maintain city services and save jobs.
Please join us in phone banking & voting YES for All of Us!
When: Every Wednesday is Local 21 night, 5:00 to 8:30 pm
Where: 441 29th Street (off Telegraph & AC Transit bus #1R)
RSVP: Tom Manley, Local 21 Vice President for Political and Legislative Action, or Rachel Richman, Local 21 Political and Policy Director, at 510.251.2199.
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Action Alert: Call Your Legislator and Stop the State Grab of Local Government Funds
The Governor is proposing to solve the state's budget problems by grabbing millions in funds that are the backbone of local government services. Polls show that voters rejected the Governor's ballot measures last month because they want Sacramento to solve the problem by closing tax loopholes and raising revenue - not by stealing from cities and counties.
Please act now by calling your legislators today or this evening and asking them to act. These budget cuts could be decided this week! Our lobbyist in Sacramento is fighting the cuts, but we need to do our part!
Here are some of the outrageous cuts proposed:
- Gas Tax: Taking $600 million of the gas tax from local government will bring most local street repairs and routine maintenance to a halt. In many cities, like Oakland, the gas tax is two-thirds of the street repair budget. In San Francisco, Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, it will result in upwards of 300 layoffs. In San Jose, it may result in 100 layoffs.
- Property Tax: Both the proposal to "borrow" 8% of local government property taxes or eliminating the property tax share for special districts (such as EBMUD) could result in massive layoffs and service cuts.
- Transit: The Governor's proposal to redirect $315 million in Public Transportation Account funds to pay for debt service on transit bonds will force local agencies to make a second round of cuts or a second round of fare hikes, or both.
- CalWorks, Healthy Families, IHSS and SSI/SSP: Elimination of CalWorks and Healthy Families and cuts to IHSS and SSI-SSP are reckless and will force many Californians into homelessness and hunger. More than 48,000 families in Alameda County will be hurt by CalWorks cuts, more than 13,000 children in Contra Costa County will lose healthcare, 18,000 ill, elderly, and disabled will lose home healthcare in San Francisco and nearly 50,000 seniors will face a frightening cut from SSI/SSP in Santa Clara County.
- Courts: Cutting funding for courts by 10% and requiring courts to implement electronic reporting may save money, but it will be at the expense of a judicial system that is the bedrock of American law.
"I'm calling to urge you to convince the Budget Conference Committee to reject the Governor's proposed cuts to local government, especially (insert one or more examples from the list above). My name is _____ and my home address is ____. Please let me know what the Assemblymember/Senator is doing to stop the cuts."
Not sure who your legislators are? Click here.
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IFPTE President Greg Junemann Announces Candidacy for AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
Greg Junemann, President of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) has publicly declared his candidacy for the position of AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer. The nation's largest labor federation will choose new leaders at its quadrennial convention the week of September 14 in Pittsburgh.
Junemann said, "This is a critical time for our nation, our economy and our labor movement - a time of unprecedented transitions." Junemann's priorities have long focused on growth and stability: "My main objective as Secretary-Treasurer will be to bring financial stability and integrity to the AFL-CIO. Without a doubt, getting the AFL-CIO's finances on a stable footing will be a challenge. Yet, I believe that by streamlining the AFL-CIO's operations, by bringing the labor federation's finances in line with its core missions and with the priorities of the affiliated unions, we can accomplish this. My goal is to be totally open and transparent with our affiliates in examining and structuring our financial operations."
Under Junemann's leadership, first as Organizing Director/Secretary-Treasurer and later as President, IFPTE has experienced a 250 percent increase in membership in little more than a decade and today is the nation's fastest growing union. In 2005, Junemann was elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Council where he serves as Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee and also serves as a member of committees on Training and Education, International Affairs, Political Policy, State and Local Organizations, and Public Affairs. In addition, President Junemann is a Vice President of two departments within the AFL-CIO: the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) and the Department for Professional Employees (DPE). Within DPE, he chairs the Committee on the Evolution of Professional Careers. The committee is charged with addressing the unique challenges affecting those workers in the engineering profession, including issues related to globalization, domestic guestworker programs, and the shifting of engineering positions and other jobs overseas.
Visit Junemann's website for more information.
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Save-The-Date! Second 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 barbeque. More information will be shared with all South Bay members in the coming weeks - stay tuned for an update at your next chapter meeting.
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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
