Issues & Legislation

SEIU 1021
Article SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford

We will keep fighting.
Statement on 2024 Election

Dear union siblings,

Like so many of you, I watched yesterday’s election results come in with deep disappointment. We looked forward to turning a page on one of the most divisive chapters in this country’s recent history. We worked hard to make that happen. While we knew all along that this outcome was very possible, perhaps even probable, we were determined to prevent it.

This morning, I am more determined than ever to stay in this fight and see it through. Our communities need and deserve nothing less.

Article

Biden-Harris administration cancels $74 billion in student loan debt for public service workers

The Biden-Harris administration announced last week it had approved an additional $4.5 billion in student loan relief for more than 60,000 student loan borrowers working in public service—including educators, nurses, social workers, armed service members, and first responders.

Those new approvals marked a major milestone: $74 billion in student loan debt has been cancelled for 1 million public service workers. 

Article

SEIU 1021 members rally to support SF Prop B to upgrade public health facilities
The bond measure won't raise taxes, but will ensure the safety and the future of SF General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, clinics, and others.

SEIU 1021 members, including President Theresa Rutherford and Vice President of Organizing Brandon Dawkins, were among dozens of community members and union workers who came out to Portsmouth Square in Chinatown in San Francisco last Wednesday, September 24. 

They were there alongside Board of Supervisors President and SEIU 1021 endorsed mayoral candidate Aaron Peskin, Mayor London Breed, and other elected leaders and candidates to show support for Prop B.

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Chevron will pay a historic pollution tax that will fund city services in groundbreaking settlement with Richmond

In a major step forward for environmental justice, the City of Richmond and Chevron have reached a historic settlement that will significantly increase taxes for the Chevron Richmond refinery.

The leadership of Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez and Councilmember Claudia Jimenez were instrumental in reaching this deal. This is an unprecedented victory for the city and its residents, who have long advocated for Richmond’s biggest polluters to pay their fair share.

This agreement will:

Article by Trish Belenson, SEIU 1021 Oakland Unified School District Chapter President

SEIU 1021 Executive Board passes divestment resolution

On Saturday, July 27, the SEIU Local 1021 Executive Board passed a divestment resolution drafted by rank-and-file members of 1021 Members for Palestine Divestment Committee. 

Article

SEIU members rally at California State Capitol to advocate for a fair budget for Californians
Hundred of union members from across the state came together in solidarity to speak out against proposed budget cuts

SEIU members rally at California State Capitol to advocate for a fair budget for Californians

On Tuesday, June 11, hundreds of SEIU members from across the state marched and rallied  alongside community allies at the California State Capitol in Sacramento to advocate for their vision of a fair budget for Californians.

The updated state budget as of May 10 reduces one-time spending by $19.1 billion and ongoing spending by $13.7 billion until 2025-26. 

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SEIU 1021 members lobby state legislators to protect workers and the environment

Last week, San Francisco resilience GIS analyst and SEIU 1021 member Alex Morrison joined other SEIU members from across California to rally in Sacramento. They advocated for lawmakers to invest in public sector approaches to fighting climate change.

He said, “Addressing climate change will take an unprecedented effort, to keep fossil fuels in the ground and fundamentally change how we approach people meeting their needs in our society.

Article

“This is going to be huge”
California Supreme Court upholds Alameda County's Measure C, unlocking hundreds of millions of dollars for early health and education for children

On Wednesday, April 24 the California State Supreme Court upheld the validity of 2020’s Measure C, The Children’s Health and Child Care Initiative for Alameda County.

A major priority for SEIU 1021, Measure C passed in 2020 with overwhelming voter support after a coalition of community, labor, health, and early childhood stakeholders gathered over 57,000 signatures to qualify a ballot initiative.

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Statement from SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford on passage of San Francisco Proposition F

Media contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, (510) 710-0201, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org

“SEIU Local 1021 filed an Unfair Practice Charge today. In the Unfair Practice Charge, we asked the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to void Proposition F on the ground that the City failed to provide the union prior notice or opportunity to bargain over the impacts of it before placing it on the ballot. We will also file a Request to Expedite, which asks PERB to put this case to the front of its queue due to the urgency of the matter.

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Union members rally for Prop 1 with Gov. Newsom at SEIU 2015 in San Francisco
They then headed out to knock on doors and make calls to get out the vote.

On Monday, March 4, the eve of the primary election, members of SEIU 1021, SEIU 2015, building trades unions, and other unions filled SEIU 2015’s San Francisco union hall to rally for Proposition 1. The rally had a special guest: the ballot measure’s own author and chief proponent, Governor Gavin Newsom.

Proposition 1 would create a $6.4 billion bond that would pay for the construction of new treatment beds and housing for people struggling with mental health and severe substance abuse. 

Article

SF union members brave rain to get out the vote for Prop B
Dozens of volunteers came to the Prop B campaign kickoff, then hit the streets to get the word out to voters

On a rain-soaked Saturday morning last weekend, dozens of volunteers–many of them union members–came together in the Richmond district in San Francisco. They were in sneakers and jackets, ready to brave the elements to get the word out to voters: San Francisco needs Prop B for public safety.

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Victory for SF City workers: Budget-draining legislation neutralized by amendment requiring new funding
The Safer Smarter SF Coalition turned out again on Monday, Nov. 6, and pushed the Rules Committee to pass the amended version

Yesterday, Monday, November 6, San Francisco City and County workers and supporters once again packed the SF Board of Supervisors Rule Committee. This time, their goal was to push the committee to pass the version of the charter amendment introduced two weeks ago by Sup. Matt Dorsey containing Sup. Ahsha Safaí’s amendment to the full Board of Supervisors. And they won an important early victory: The amended version of the legislation passed 2-1, with only Sup. Dorsey voting against his own bill.

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SEIU 1021 members host a statewide conference to build unity in the fight for climate justice

Last Saturday, November 4, more than 150 SEIU members from across California met in person at the SEIU 1021 San Francisco office and via Zoom for a Climate Justice Conference, hosted by SEIU Local 1021. 

President Theresa Rutherford welcomed members from SEIU 1021, 221, 721, 1000, 2015, and USWW, saying, “Climate change is not a phenomenon: It’s now a crisis, and it has been for a long time. It disproportionately affects Black and brown people, and that’s why SEIU 1021 has made this a priority.”

Article

SEIU 1021, other SF unions speak out against proposed charter amendment that would decimate City budget
Union members flooded the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee meeting to make their voices heard

Monday, October 30, dozens of members of SEIU 1021, IFTPE Local 21, and San Francisco building trades unions filled the SF Board of Supervisors Rules Committee chambers to overflowing. One by one, they gave public comment protesting a charter amendment proposed by Supervisor Matt Dorsey that would decimate the City’s budget.