SF Superior Courts staff rally to protest mismanagement resulting in delays, errors, and dismissals; warn of potential strike
Courtroom clerks sound the alarm on backlogged cases and mistakes from burnout and lack of cross-training that lead to longer wait times for people hoping for justice or sitting in county jail.
Short staffing and high caseloads are causing defendants to sit in county jail for longer periods of time to get their day in court and out of a cell, robbing San Franciscans of their constitutional right to a speedy trial. It’s also been causing misdemeanor cases to be thrown out.
“Trying to get through the backlog without enough time or staffing leads to simple errors that cause real-world problems,” said Robert Borders, criminal division courtroom clerk. “A small mistake on paper can turn into a living nightmare for someone stuck in a jail cell waiting for their day in court.”
Last Tuesday, September 17, they rallied outside both San Francisco courthouses at lunchtime to push court management to address these issues in current negotiations before their contract expires in two weeks. If management does not make movement on these issues, workers may take a strike authorization vote in the coming weeks.
Court staff have been bringing attention to inadequate staffing for impossible caseloads, yet management has canceled meetings with them twice in the last month. They are currently in contract negotiations and are using this opportunity to share their proposals on how to remedy the problem.
“These are issues clerks are intimately aware of. We understand how to better streamline the process and help the public,” said civil division courtroom clerk Kimberly Septien. “We have responded to the backlog by requesting more training and staffing. Instead of addressing these proposals, management has canceled meetings. We are here to serve the public; nobody wants to strike, but if that’s what it takes to make management take these issues seriously, we are prepared to do it.”
They were joined by Supervisors Aaron Peskin (D3), Dean Preston (D5), and Connie Chan (D1), who spoke enthusiastically in support of the workers.
“I’m here with my friends and colleagues from the Board first, to let you know that we profoundly thank you for your work, and second, to recognize that your demands are absolutely reasonable and essential,” said D3 Supervisor Peskin. “Third, that you know that we will be with you as long as it takes. If you do have to go on strike, we will be with you. Fourth, to let you know that we are willing and able to use the power of our offices to intervene with the courts of this county and the courts of the state of California to ensure that full staffing is realized, to ensure that the training you need and are asking for is provided, and of course to ensure that your working conditions, your wages and benefits in this very expensive city in this very expensive region are met.”
“As your budget committee chair, we talk a lot about putting dollars on programs and services. Justice is priceless!” said D1 Supervisor Chan. ”We should not put the dollar tag on the services you provide for San Franciscans every day. If we mean business with public safety, let’s make sure we’re paying our court clerks!”