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Without women in labor, we would not have Women’s History Month or International Women’s Day
The month of March is Women’s History Month. The month-long observance traces its beginnings back to Northern California, the jurisdiction of SEIU Local 1021, and to the first International Women’s Day, held on March 8, 1911. Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day highlight women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements to events in history and contemporary society.
SFUSD classified staff protest short-staffing & low wages at school board in rally with educators
Severe short-staffing has SFUSD classified workers like custodians, nutrition service workers, and clerical staff carrying unsustainable workloads. Low wages, poor working conditions, and ongoing payroll problems underlie the crisis.
Over a hundred San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) classified employees, fed up with deteriorating working conditions for paychecks that have not kept pace with inflation, braved frigid winds to march and rally with hundreds of educators ahead of the school board meeting last Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Hayward USD classified staff rally for healthcare at school board
Currently, HUSD staff receive no healthcare benefits – an untenable situation that is exacerbating a staffing crisis and causing significant hardship
Even after a multi-year pandemic that has claimed millions of lives and that shut down schools for many months, Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) staff still have no healthcare benefits. Around 100 SEIU 1021 members at HUSD joined with members of AEOTE, the other union representing some classified staff in the district, for a spirited rally at the school board last Wednesday, February 15, to call attention to the need for healthcare benefits to compete in today’s tight labor market.
2/16/23: Join Our Labor & Community Coalition to Demand an End to Police Brutality
Join our coalition of labor and community organizations this Thursday, Feb. 16, at 5:30 p.m. on the steps of City Hall in San Francisco to protest the murder of Tyre Nichols and demand an end to police brutality to protest the murder of Tyre Nichols.
Breaking barriers: the legacy of Johnnie Lacy
By the SEIU Local 1021 Workers with Disabilities Committee
Johnnie Lacy was a trailblazer in the disability rights movement, and her contributions have had a lasting impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Her advocacy efforts helped raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities and paved the way for greater inclusion and accessibility. Her legacy inspires future generations of activists and advocates to fight for a more just and equitable society for all.
Sonoma County Workers Rally at Board of Supervisors to Demand Action to Address Severe Staffing Crisis
Short staffing is jeopardizing critical public services and endangering residents – and frustrated county workers are speaking up.
Sonoma County is experiencing an unprecedented staffing crisis that is leaving residents in a lurch, particularly the county’s most vulnerable. After the strain of multiple fires, floods, and the pandemic, on top of pay that has not kept pace with inflation, employees are leaving the County at alarming rates to find more sustainable employment elsewhere. Those who remain are struggling under an ever-increasing workload – and county residents are paying the price.
SFUSD classified staff rally at school board, demand urgent action to address ongoing payroll debacle and staffing crisis
Over 150 SEIU 1021 SFUSD members turned out to last Tuesday's school board meeting demanding urgent action
There is a term to describe when an employer does not pay its employees what it owes them for work performed: wage theft. For over a year now, since rolling out its boondoggle of a new payroll system, San Francisco Unified School District has been committing wage theft. Despite claims from its new superintendent that a new “command center” would make sure shortchanged employees are made whole, that has not materialized, as help tickets continue to go unanswered, calls go unreturned, and desperate employees who go in person are turned away.
A message from SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford regarding the City of Monterey Park Killings
It is with great sadness that we have witnessed yet another mass shooting of fellow citizens in our country. These mass murders continue to create fear in our communities and destroy families. They are antithetical to the very foundation this country is built on: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
SEIU 1021 members in San Francisco put their solidarity on full display at annual Unity Party
Last Thursday, SEIU 1021 members across San Francisco joined together to celebrate another year for the history books. After negotiating strong agreements between our union and employers including the City and County of San Francisco as well as several nonprofit employers, there was good reason to celebrate.
Chabot Las Positas Community College District classified staff ratify strong contract by 99%
SEIU 1021 members will get a 16%+ raise over 3 years as well as new protections
SEIU 1021 members at Chabot Las Positas Community College District (CLPCCD) voted nearly unanimously last week to ratify a tentative agreement with no takeaways that not only addresses skyrocketing inflation but also provides protections for classified staff and improvements to working conditions.
SEIU 1021 members celebrate Oakland’s historic new mayor, Sheng Thao
Sheng Thao was inaugurated as Oakland’s mayor last week, and SEIU 1021 was on the scene. The former City Council member has been a familiar face at SEIU 1021 events including our recent holiday toy drive, and her term as mayor is an exciting moment for working people across the Bay Area and a tremendous opportunity for working people, with a pro-worker mayor of Oakland.
City of Berkeley workers are speaking up against understaffing
The City of Berkeley has, like most places, struggled with staffing throughout the pandemic. The need for core services provided by City workers and SEIU 1021 members has spiked, and pressing issues around working conditions, including telework options, adequate leave, and fair compensation, have made it difficult to fill the positions that fulfill those needs.
Port of Oakland workers picket for a fair workplace and a strong contract
Throughout the pandemic, Port of Oakland workers have been pushed to the limit, and they’re fighting back again to win a contract and put a stop to unfair disciplines and chronic understaffing. You can help by signing their petition here.
Gig workers continue the fight against the unconstitutional Proposition 22
In August 2021, the Alameda County Superior Court ruled that Proposition 22 violated the California Constitution. On December 13, the California Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the gig corporations’ appeal of that ruling. Out in force were hundreds of gig workers, community supporters, allies, coalition partners, and public officials supporting workers’ rights.
SEIU 1021 honored with an Equity Award at the 20th annual human rights banquet from Human Agenda
On Saturday, December 10, SEIU Local 1021 was honored at the 20th Anniversary Human Rights Awards, receiving a 2022 Human Rights Award from the non-profit Human Agenda organization, which seeks to envision a world in which everyone’s needs are met, to create local institutions that are democratic, cooperative, egalitarian, sustainable, and kind, and to take individual responsibility for embodying the changes we want to see.
SEIU 1021 members welcome new Sacramento City Unified School District board members
The school board meeting on Dec. 15 was packed wall-to-wall with supportive union members
While packed school board meetings usually signal trouble brewing, the mood at the packed Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education meeting last week was festive. SCUSD classified staff — SEIU 1021 members — and educators represented by Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) filled the room to overflowing to celebrate the induction of three new board members they had knocked on thousands of doors to get elected.
SEIU 1021 and community allies unite to defeat SFPD’s killer robots proposal
Several weeks ago, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to authorize the San Francisco Police Department to deploy remote-control robots that were capable of using deadly force against residents. SEIU 1021 activists, along with racial justice groups, civil rights and civil liberties organizations, LGBTQ organizations, and other unions, jumped into action to oppose this dangerous and scary policy.
Mendocino County Workers Ratify One-Year Contract with Plans to Hold County Accountable for Improved Process & Information Flow for Future Agreements
The new contract, which was approved by over 90% of voting members, includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment and a one-time $3000 ARPA stipend, as well as larger improvements for certain severely understaffed classifications
SEIU Local 1021 members working for Mendocino County voted by over 90% last week to approve a new one-year contract with the County after almost nine months of contentious negotiations, during which county administration and the Board of Supervisors claimed repeatedly not to know or understand what was available to them in the budget.
East Bay Unity Event: Let’s celebrate our hard work and successes!
Despite the hardships we’ve endured during the pandemic, we’ve experienced many significant union wins here at SEIU 1021.
If you work in the East Bay, please join your union siblings for a unity party on Thurs., Dec. 15, from 5:30 – 9:30 PM, at Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St., Suite 290, Oakland.
We will have a buffet dinner 5:30-7:00 PM, and our party with prizes, awards, special guests, and a DJ will be from 7:00-9:30 PM.
Staff at Mills College at Northeastern unanimously ratify first contract
Mills adjunct faculty also unanimously ratify new contract with Northeastern
Over two and a half years after voting by 95% to form their union with SEIU 1021, Mills College staff have voted unanimously to ratify their first union contract. In line with their priorities in negotiations, the agreement will provide meaningful improvements for the lowest-paid employees, including bumping the part-time minimum wage from $15 to $17 an hour and establishing a minimum wage of $23.15 an hour for full-time employees — for whom there has not been a minimum wage up until now.