Press Releases
Press Releases
Media inquiry? Please fill out the media inquiry contact form here and the appropriate media contact will be in touch with you shortly.
Strike averted for City of Berkeley
City employees have reached a tentative agreement amid unfair labor practices after months of contract negotiations with management
The Community Services and Part-Time Recreation Leader Association workers came to a tentative agreement for a new contract with the City of Berkeley just two days before their second strike was schedule to begin. They have been negotiating with city leaders since February, and working with an expired contract since June 26.
In early August, City of Berkeley workers went on a two-day strike at Berkeley Day Camp. Then on Oct. 14, they picketed outside of City Hall to call for a fair contract before voting by 93% to authorize a strike.
Oakland City Employees Sound Alarm Over Proposed Budget Cuts
Will Show a Better Way Forward for the City’s Finances Monday, November 19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contacts: Luke Thibault, lthibault@ifpte21.org,
760-534-9958
Chris Flink, flink@seiu1021.org, 510-701-9637
(Oakland, CA) City employee unions are sounding the alarm over dangerous and irresponsible budget cuts proposed by the City of Oakland’s Administration, which threaten critical services to residents. A coalition of unions—including IAFF Local 55, IFPTE Local 21, SEIU Local 1021, and IBEW Local 1245—are demanding immediate action to protect essential city services.
City of Berkeley Workers to Strike Citywide
The Unfair Labor Practice Strike Is Scheduled for November 20 and 21
Contact: Chris Flink, flink@seiu1021.org, 510.701.9637
Berkeley, California—City of Berkeley workers in SEIU Local 1021 have given the City of Berkeley official notice that they intend to strike on Wednesday, November 20 and Thursday, November 21, to protest the City’s unfair labor practices. The Community Services and Part-Time Recreation Leader Association workers have been negotiating over their contract with City of Berkeley leaders since February, and their contract expired on June 26.
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.
SF Superior Court Clerks on Strike
Court management is violating labor law by refusing to seriously address court workers’ staffing, training concerns. Courtroom clerks are taking matters into their own hands.
**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURS., OCT. 24**
Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201
San Francisco Superior Court Clerks Vote by 99% to Authorize a Strike
As court management stalls contract negotiations, court workers are ready to take matters into their own hands to get the courts back on track and end the delays and errors caused by mismanagement
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THUR., OCT. 10**
Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, 510-710-0201, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org
SAN FRANCISCO: On Wednesday, October 9, San Francisco Superior Court clerks voted by 99% to authorize their contract negotiations team to call a strike if management does not make substantial progress toward meeting their biggest concerns.
Statement from SEIU 1021 SFUSD Classified Chapter President on Superintendent Matt Wayne School Closure Announcement
Contact: Chelsea Fink, Chelsea.Fink@seiu1021.org, (510) 435-8282
SFUSD Superintendent Matt Wayne announced today that the Board of Education will consider closing and merging thirteen schools at its meeting on November 12. This list of schools raises serious concerns about the fate of San Francisco students and families and the dedicated staff who support these schools. Dr. Wayne claims these closures meet their 2023-24 school year criteria, but what does that mean for our community?
SF Superior Courts Staff Rally to Protest Mismanagement Resulting in Delays, Consequential Errors, and Case Dismissals
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
**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUES., SEPT. 17**
Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo,
jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201
Ella Sogomonian, ella.sogomonian@seiu1021.org, (415) 686-5075
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.
Statement from SEIU 1021 SFUSD Classified Professionals on San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s Replacement of School Board President
Contact: Chelsea Fink, Chelsea.Fink@seiu1021.org, (510) 435-8282
SF Superior Courts Staff to Rally Against Short Staffing That Has Resulted in Delays and Case Dismissals
In the wake of the dismissal of at least 70 misdemeanor cases, frontline staff say court capacity is stretched too thin and must be addressed in negotiations
**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WED., AUG. 21**
Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201
Chevron to Pay Historic Pollution Tax in Groundbreaking Settlement with Richmond
(Richmond, CA) 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. Unions representing hundreds of city employees, including SEIU 1021 and IFPTE Local 21, applaud the leadership of Mayor Martinez and Councilmember Jimenez 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:
Fantastic Negrito to headline 2024 SEIU 1021 Convention
This year will be the first time SEIU 1021 delegates and members will gather in person for a convention since the pandemic. Along with the important work of laying out a plan for the next few years, the convention will also feature a celebration to commemorate the special occasion. The union is thrilled to announce that 3x GRAMMY® Award-winner and Oakland’s own Fantastic Negrito will be headlining the event at the SAFE Convention Center in Sacramento.
New contracts for over 16,000 City & County of San Francisco workers ratified, eliminating risk of strike
Members of SEIU 1021 working for the City & County in dozens of classifications, including registered nurses and SFMTA parking control officers, voted by large supermajorities to ratify tentative agreements reached over the past two months
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 18, 2024**
Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201
The threat of a widespread San Francisco city worker strike is officially over: Large supermajorities of members of SEIU 1021, the union representing over 16,000 city workers, have voted to ratify agreements reached with the City and County across three collective bargaining units.
Facing unfair labor practices and an unsafe workplace, SEIU 1021 members at Alameda Health System vote to strike
The vote passed nearly unanimously: 99.5%
Alameda County, California – After months of bargaining over a new contract and numerous unfair labor practices from Alameda Health System (AHS) management, SEIU 1021 members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize their bargaining team to call a strike. 99.5 percent voted to strike.
SFDPH Nurses Reach Tentative Agreement to Address Staffing Crisis
The agreement, which must be ratified by a majority of members of the nurses’ union, will add new positions and mechanisms to reduce contracting out and to reduce reliance on temporary, part-time nurses
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 21, 2024**
Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201; Ella Sogomonian, ella.sogomonian@seiu1021.org, (415) 686-5075
SEIU 1021 Santa Clara All Lecturers Union (SALU) Ratify Historic First Contract With 97.8% Approval
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Contact: Chelsea Fink, Chelsea.fink@seiu1021.org, (510) 435-8282
SANTA CLARA, CA—On Thursday, May 16th, after 16 months of negotiations, SEIU Local 1021 members working as adjunct professors and lecturers for Santa Clara University (SCU) voted to approve their first union contract.
Nurses at San Francisco’s Public Hospitals & Community Clinics Vote by 99.5% to Authorize a Strike
SF Department of Public Health management has refused to take meaningful action in contract negotiations to address the chronic, severe staffing crisis undermining patient care, leaving nurses to take desperate measures to advocate for their patients
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 17, 2024**
Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201; Ella Sogomonian, ella.sogomonian@seiu1021.org, (415) 686-5075
San Francisco Department of Public Health Nurses to Vote Next Week to Authorize Strike
RNs at San Francisco’s public hospitals and community clinics say they need more than praise or pizza parties for National Nurses Week–they need safe staffing.
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201; Ella Sogomonian, ella.sogomonian@seiu1021.org, (415) 686-5075
As National Nurses Week winds down, registered nurses and other frontline staff gathered outside Laguna Honda Hospital on Thursday afternoon. Even as they celebrated the critical role nurses and staff played in keeping the hospital open and moving it toward recertification with CMS, speakers struck a somber note – and a warning to SFDPH.
Nurses picket Laguna Honda Hospital, sound alarm that admitting new patients at current staffing levels would be dangerous; warn of impending strike
RNs at San Francisco’s public hospitals and community clinics say they need more than praise or pizza parties for National Nurses Week–they need safe staffing.
**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MAY 9**
Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201; Ella Sogomonian, ella.sogomonian@seiu1021.org, (415) 686-5075
“Target on our backs”: SFMTA workers rally against unsafe working conditions
Parking control officers found out about the alleged upcoming “crackdown” announced through the news media – and they worry that it sets them up for increased risk of assault by disgruntled motorists.
**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURS. APRIL 25**
Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201; Ella Sogomonian, ella.sogomonian@seiu1021.org, (415) 686-5075
Sign up to have press releases emailed to you
If you want to be added to the SEIU 1021 media list and receive press releases and media advisories, please complete the form below.