eNewsletter - July 24, 2009
Local 21-Backed Oakland Ballot Measures Pass by Huge Margin
AEA Ratifies Contract Extension
South Bay Chapters Celebrate 2nd Annual Picnic
San Leandro Honors Local 21 Leader
Upcoming Steward Trainings for Local 21 Members
Watch out for Local 21's Quarterly Magazine - Twenty One
16th Annual LaborFest Connects Labor History to Present Struggles through July 31
Save-The-Date! Banquet in the Streets, July 26
Save-The-Date! How to Reduce Your Stress - Monday, August 17, Noon
Local 21-Backed Oakland Ballot Measures Pass by Huge Margin
This week Oakland voters approved four ballot measures that will play a dramatic role in generating revenue for the City, helping to save jobs and public services. Measures C, D, F, and H passed with over 70% of the vote in a mail-only election, and are expected to raise an estimated $7 million annually, with no new taxes imposed on a majority of residents.
Months ago, our union's leaders and staff researched taxes and lobbied City Council members about the need for a special election to raise money for the cash-strapped city. Since June, Local 21 and a number of other city unions have been instrumental in advancing the campaign to pass these measures. Hundreds of volunteers spent their evenings phoning Oakland residents to educate voters about the ballot measures, build support for the campaign, and remind voters to mail their ballots on time.
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Many thanks to the Local 21 volunteers who made this victory possible: Janet Austin, Marylin Bechtel, Chris Candell, Joyce Carlson, Joe Castro, Carol Curtis, Hamid Ghaemmaghami, Mark Henderson, Pat Hendl, Judy Jackson, Rebecca Johnson, Chuck Johnston, Doug Jones, Ava Jourdain, Bruce Levitch, Al Lujan, Tom Manley, Elisa Marquez, Moises Montoya, |
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AEA Ratifies Contract Extension
On Friday, July 17, Local 21's Association of Engineers and Architects (AEA) at the City of San Jose voted to ratify a one year contract extension through June 30, 2010. AEA Unit 43 unanimously voted "yes," and an overwhelming majority in Units 41 and 42 voted to formally approve the tentative agreement. Highlights include the contract extension with a 0% wage increase and preservation of current benefits. The voting process was overseen by Local 21 leadership John Mukhar, Dianna Butcher, and Senior Representative Nancy Ostrowski.
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South Bay Chapters Celebrate 2nd Annual Picnic
On 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, City of East Palo Alto, Santa Clara Valley Water District's Professional Managers Association, and Valley Transportation Authority Engineers and Architects gathered for their second annual South Bay Chapters BBQ and picnic lunch at Hellyer County Park in San Jose.
Special thanks to Chef Paul Pascoal and Grill-experts Khoa Vo, David Boyd, Roy Cabaltera, Rudy Castelo, Mike Griffis, John Mukhar, and Ananth Prasad, who worked hard to ensure the BBQ was not only tasty but ready upon the arrival of over 230 members, Local 21 staff, and Executive Committee Officers, who enjoyed tri-tip, sausage, salads, watermelon, and a special treat of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. The event could not have been such a success without the planning and preparation efforts of the South Bay Regional Council, Local 21 Staff, South Bay chapter leaders, and over 16 volunteers including Dianna Butcher, Stacey Lu Santos, Liza Gonzalez, Bill Lee, Ray Simpson, Marc De Long, Manjit Khalsa, Rajwinder Sehdev, Martin Gamez, and Luis Ortiz.
Visit our website's Latest News section to see photos from the event.
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San Leandro Honors Local 21 Leader
San Leandro City Employees Association past President Steve Lombardi was honored by San Leandro's City Council as "City Employee of the Quarter," for the third quarter of 2009. Lombardi is a Traffic Supervisor in the Public Works Department, and has been a dedicated Local 21 leader for many years. Congratulations, Steve!
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Upcoming Steward Trainings for Local 21 Members
The union is hosting two trainings on representation in the workplace -- Please Join Us!
Tuesday, July 28: East Bay Steward Training, 5 PM - 8:30 PM
Thursday, July 30: San Francisco Steward Training, 5 PM - 8:30 PM
These practical intermediate level workshops are 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 today, Friday, July 24 and specify which training date and location you plan to attend.
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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 Summer 2009 issue of Twenty One focuses on the economy at the local and state levels, highlights Local 21 chapters' efforts to navigate the current fiscal crisis by using different innovative and important strategies, and illustrates why political participation is more important than ever before.
Can't wait to receive your copy in the mail? Visit our website for a sneak preview of the Summer 2009 Twenty One.
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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 90th anniversary of the immigration trial of ILWU president Harry Bridges, who was tried for being a communist. The event 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:
- 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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Save-The-Date! Banquet in the Streets, July 26
Join UNITE HERE Local 2 and community leaders for an opportunity to honor courageous hotel workers and celebrate fair and just working conditions. While hotel workers are the backbone of San Francisco's tourism industry, management at the HEI Le Meridien and Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf hotels have refused to honor their workers' petition for a fair process to have a voice on the job. Many in our community, including elected officials and religious leaders, have expressed support for the worker-called boycott of these hotels and the struggle for justice and equality.
Rather than hold a banquet inside these establishments, Local 2 is taking its celebration to the streets! Hear workers' stories and affirmations of solidarity from the community. Wear your banquet best, and enjoy great music, dancing, free food, and family fun!
This event celebrating the hotel workers' campaign for a fair process is on Sunday, July 26 at 4:30 PM in front of Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf Hotel at 555 North Point Street, San Francisco. Music and light food provided, banquet attire encouraged. RSVP online or contact Rev. Israel Alvaran ialvaran@clueca.org at 415-863-1142 for more information.
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Save-The-Date! How to Reduce Your Stress - Monday, August 17, 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, August 17 from Noon to 1 PM at the San Francisco Public Library at 100 Larkin St., Sycip Family Conference Room, 4th floor (no food allowed).
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
