**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR JANUARY 16, 2025**

Contact: Chelsea Fink, chelsea.fink@seiu1021.org, (510) 435-8282

On Thursday, January 16, paraprofessionals, nutrition workers, student supervision workers, custodians, clerical workers, bus drivers, and maintenance workers, joined by community supporters, will stage a rally and picket outside the Vacaville Educational Services Center ahead of the evening’s school board meeting. This united demonstration is a direct response to ongoing instances of physical violence endured by paraprofessionals and students within the Vacaville Unified School District (VUSD) and the school board’s failure to address these critical issues. VUSD classified staff are sending a clear message: The board’s dismissive attitude toward their safety concerns is pushing them to the brink of a strike.

WHAT: Rally For School Safety
TIME: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
DATE: Thursday, January 16
WHERE: VUSD ESC, 401 Nut Tree Rd, Vacaville
WHO: VUSD classified workers & community supporters
VISUALS: Picket signs, SEIU 1021 members chanting

Classified workers have been in contract negotiations since March, offering solutions, but safety issues continue to go unaddressed as management stalls and dismisses suggestions in the union’s proposal. A letter was even sent by management to SEIU paraprofessionals ordering them to continue working in unsafe conditions unless they “suffer the loss of limbs.”  

Staff have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike, and nearly 200 classified workers registered for strike school Wednesday evening in preparation for the impending potential strike if an agreement isn’t reached quickly.

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SEIU Local 1021 represents nearly 60,000 employees in local governments, nonprofit agencies, health care programs, courts, and schools throughout Northern California, including seven private colleges and numerous community colleges. SEIU Local 1021 is a diverse, member-driven organization with members who work to make our cities, schools, colleges, counties, and special districts safe and healthy places to live and raise our families.