eNewsletter - July 10, 2009
AEA Reaches Tentative Agreement on One-Year Contract Extension
Local 21 Adds Field Services Director, Welcomes New Staff
16th Annual LaborFest Connects Labor History to Present Struggles through July 31
Join Us in Voting YES for Oakland! Volunteers needed on July 15!
Save-The-Date! Second Annual South Bay BBQ, July 16!
Upcoming Steward and Bargaining Trainings for Local 21 Members
Save-The-Date! How to Reduce Your Stress - Monday, July 20, Noon
AEA Reaches Tentative Agreement on One-Year Contract Extension
Local 21's Association of Engineers and Architects (AEA) at the City of San Jose reached a tentative agreement on a one-year contract extension after months of discussions with the City.
Early in the Spring, Local 21, along with other unions, came together under the South Bay Labor Council and City Labor Alliance (CLA) and announced their willingness to receive a zero percent wage increase for FY 2009. The offer was prompted by the City's $100 million deficit and the need to save jobs and services.
In exchange for the 0% increase, the unions' offer asked for one-year contract extensions and preservation of current benefits. The City rejected the offer, demanding larger takeaways. After months of negotiation and threats from the City to unilaterally impose cuts, Local 21 and other members of CLA reached an agreement where the current contracts, wages, and benefits would be extended by one year through June 2010 -- what they originally proposed. Most importantly, a previously agreed to re-opener on retiree medical benefits would be postponed one year. Chapter leaders attribute their success to the amount of leverage each union had as part of a larger coalition.
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Local 21 Adds Field Services Director, Welcomes New Staff
Local 21 Senior Representative Bob Britton was recently promoted to fill the newly created position of Field Services Director. Bob, who has worked at Local 21 for more than 11 years, will be responsible for all Local 21 field services to our chapters in the East Bay and Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Francisco counties. His responsibilities for field staff supervision and mentoring are being expanded to include all staff servicing Local 21 chapters in San Francisco.
In announcing the change, Local 21's Executive Director Bob Muscat pointed to Britton's stellar mentoring of staff and his seasoning at the bargaining table and in many other facets of labor relations, "Bob is a great asset to the members of our union, to me, and to his colleagues. His patience and resourcefulness is exceeded only by his decency and work ethic. In my two years with Local 21, this is the first staffing change I've made and its one I will always be proud of."
Nancy Mancias also joined our staff as the Administrative/Organizing Assistant to the South Bay office. Nancy earned a degree in Drama from San Francisco State University. Prior to joining Local 21, she worked at the international human rights organization Global Exchange, where she coordinated delegations to the Middle East and organized campaigns in St. Paul, MN., Manhattan, NY., Miami, FL., Washington D.C. and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. She looks forward to working, supporting and collaborating with our South Bay members.
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16th Annual LaborFest Connects Labor History to Present Struggles through July 31
July 5 was the 75th anniversary of "Bloody Thursday," when two maritime workers were killed by police during an attack on strikers. The event marked the beginning of the San Francisco General Strike and West Coast Waterfront strike when thousands of workers shut down the City for fair wages and working conditions.
Since 1994, LaborFest has institutionalized the Bay Area's history and culture of working people in an annual labor festival. This year's event is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the immigration trial of ILWU president Harry Bridges, who was tried for being a communist. The event began on July 2 and continues through the end of the month, and features a variety of documentary films, historical walking and bike tours, speakers, and art exhibits. Many of the events and activities blend art, activism, politics, and history, and examine labor struggles, past and present, across the globe.
Events of particular interest to our membership and local include:
- Friday, July 10 at 4 pm -- Grapes of Wrath, film and presentation at Martin Luther King Library, 150 E. San Fernando St., San Jose (free)
- Sunday, July 12 at Noon -- Labor Walk of Golden Gate Bridge, meets at gift shops/visitors center (free)
- Thursday, July 23 (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) -- Hetch Hetchy SFPUC Labor History, Then and Now. Tour of SFPUC Wastewater Southeast Treatment Plant. Meet at 1145 Market Street, first floor conference room at 8:30 a.m. (will travel to SE Treatment Plant by bus).
- Saturday, July 25 at 10:30 am -- Oakland 1946 General Strike Walk, meet at the fountain in Latham Square (free)
- Thursday, July 30 at 7 PM -- The Bay Bridge and the Workers, Local 21's Main Office (free)
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Join Us in Voting YES for Oakland! Volunteers needed on July 15!
Community leaders, labor, business, and elected officials are working together to preserve and improve essential services in the City of Oakland during this unprecedented economic crisis. Since this is a mail ballot-only election, we must reach voters immediately to urge support for essential city services like public safety, after-school and cultural programs, senior centers, parks, libraries, and public infrastructure. Measures C, D, F, and H will raise $6-8 million to maintain services and save jobs. You can help by phoning, walking, or making a contribution!
Can you lend a hand? We're phoning Wednesday, July 15 at SEIU 1021's office at 447 29th St., near Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. RSVP to Tom Manley tmanley@ifpte21.org, Local 21 Vice President for Political and Legislative Action, or Rachel Richman rrichman@ifpte21.org, Local 21 Political and Policy Director, at 510.251.2199.
Thanks to all the Local 21 volunteers who gave up their evenings to phone Oakland residents and make a difference: Joyce Carlson, Al Lujan, Jamie Turbak, Lily Soo Hoo, Chris Candell, Kristin Zaremba, Janet Austin, Chuck Johnston, Zach Seal, Shannon Bowman, Devan Reiff, Bruce Levitch, Moises Montoya, Rebecca Johnson, Maria Ryan, Pat Hendl, Tom Manley, Vickie Carson, Subha Varadarajan, Rachel Richman, and Kyra Byrne.
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Save-The-Date! Second Annual South Bay BBQ, July 16!
Chef Paul Pascoal is cooking again! 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 Buena Vista, Hellyer County Park at 985 Hellyer Ave. in San Jose.
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. RSVP to your chapter President or call 408-291-2200.
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Upcoming Steward and Bargaining Trainings for Local 21 Members
The union is hosting membership trainings on representation in the workplace and at the bargaining table. Please RSVP to ensure enough materials and food will be available.
Thursday, July 16: Contra Costa County Collective Bargaining Training, 5 PM - 8 PM
Local 21's Collective Bargaining Training is designed to provide first-time bargaining team members with in-depth training on what to do and expect at the bargaining table, as well as offer valuable tips to veteran negotiators. The workshop aims to impart members with practical strategies for winning a fair contract, and focuses on bargaining timelines and processes, leveraging power throughout negotiations, fighting takeaways and bargaining in tough economic times, delivering and analyzing proposals, the psychology of bargaining, and strategies for effective communication.
The training will be held at Animal Services Classroom at 4800 Imhoff Pl. in Martinez. As the session is interactive, registration will be limited to the first 30 respondents. Please RSVP to Angela Long along@ifpte21.org ASAP to reserve your spot.
Tuesday, July 28: East Bay Steward Training, 5 PM - 8:30 PM
Thursday, July 30: San Francisco Steward Training, 5 PM - 8:30 PM
Please join us for these practical intermediate level workshops for functioning stewards and other union leaders who have completed Local 21's Part I Steward course.
The trainings will focus on strategies for successfully representing members and solving problems at the workplace, and will address holding effective screening interviews with members who come to their stewards with problems, distinguishing the difference between a grievance and other types of problems, getting the facts and effective investigation tactics, and meeting informally with the employer to resolve potential grievances.
The trainings will be held at Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 3 in Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland on Tuesday, July 28, and Local 21's Main Office at 1182 Market St. #318 in San Francisco on Thursday, July 30. Please RSVP to Mandy Bratt mbratt@ifpte21.org by Friday, July 24 and specify which training date and location you plan on attending.
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Save-The-Date! How to Reduce Your Stress - Monday, July 20, Noon
Do you find yourself adjusting to layoffs, worrying about the reduction in your investments, watching home equity disappear, and maxing out credit cards and struggling to make ends meet? Learn how to reduce stress in your life by attending this free class for Local 21 members. The session, led by Kitty Costello, M.A., MFT and Richard Epstein, PhD, MFT, will take place on Monday, July 20 from Noon to 1 PM at the San Francisco Public Library at 100 Larkin St., Sycip Family Conference Room, 4th floor.
RSVP's are not required. For more information about this event and other Work Life Support Services, please contact the Union office at 415.864.2100.
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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
