South Bay

Growing up with a single mom and non-profit worker, Nick Raisch began attending political rallies at a young age. In large part due to his upbringing, he grew up wanting to do something that made life easier for people like his mother. After graduating from college with a degree in political Science, Nick spent the last 5 years with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) protecting wages, benefits, and the rights of hard working people.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed Urged to Stop Lying about Pension Cost and Negotiate Reform with Employee Unions. Read more.

A Professional Management Association (PMA) member who was wrongly terminated last year has been reinstated at the Santa Clara Valley Water District with eight months of back pay. After Skelly and arbitration hearings, an independent arbitrator sided with the Union.

IFPTE Local 21 has been engaged with the City of San Jose in mediation and we have several additional mediation dates set prior to March 6, 2012. Because mediation is confidential, we are prevented from discussing specifics.

South Bay Newsletter, December 2011

Local 21 prevailed in a wrongful suspension arbitration at the Santa Clara Valley Water District in San Jose. The case dealt with a PMA members’ five-day suspension, in which we contended that the discipline was not justified. The Arbitrator agreed with our position.

Save Jobs, Affordable Housing and Economic Development

As you may know, the CA Supreme Court ruled that the measure to abolish redevelopment was legal and that the bill allowing redevelopment programs to continue in exchange for shifting millions of dollars to the state was unconstitutional. Worse, they ruled that redevelopment agencies should wind down their activities by February 1, just days from now.

On Tuesday, December 6, Hundreds of San Jose workers, including Local 21’s AEA, AMSP and CAMP members, protested a proposed ballot measure by Mayor Chuck Reed and a Council majority, that would lead to litigation and put at risk hundreds of millions of dollars that San Jose can't afford.

After months of hostile negotiations with the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Local 21 members filled a Board meeting on Monday, December 5, asking Directors for more time to bargain. Speakers reviewed recent movement from the bargaining table of Local 21’s Engineers Society (ES) and Professional Management Association (PMA) chapters.

South Bay Newsletter, October 2011