On December 3rd, 2020 Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control members of SEIU 1021 voted to elect our bargaining team.

On December 7th, 2020, we sent an official letter to Paula Macedo, the District Manager, to begin the bargaining process. This letter was followed by requests for information.

On December 21st, 2020, the Union received an introduction email from the District’s lead negotiator. We went back and forth, trying to schedule our first bargaining session.  We need a safe, private, secure space where our team can meet, and to bargain effectively, our team needs to be released from work. However, the District’s lead negotiator repeatedly refused to agree on a common place and time to meet with our team, and refused to release them from work, insisting our bargaining team meet from their trucks.

This is unacceptable. We reached out to Paula Macedo again to find some common ground so we can get to work bargaining a strong contract. However, the lead negotiator, the very next day, accused us of “direct dealing” and threatened to file an Unfair Labor Practice charge against us with the Public Employment Relations Board. This act by their lead negotiator is a blatant attempt to intimidate us, and we will not stand for it.

We have already filed a grievance about these union-busting tactics and hand delivered a copy to District Manager Paula Macedo. We are also are exploring the possibility of labor law violations by the District.

Join us at the Board of Trustees meeting on March 8, at 7 p.m. We need every member to Zoom into that meeting and tell them to stop the intimidation tactics, release our elected bargaining team members, and bargain in good faith.  We’re ready to bargain right now, but management is stalling and trying to get unfair advantages. Stand up for our rights at the Board meeting. For more information, contact Field Representative Yen Do: Yen.Do@seiu1021.org.