SEIU 1021 Member Convention

A Convention Message from President Roxanne Sanchez

On behalf of the SEIU 1021 Executive Board, I am pleased to invite you to provide your input and ideas for our two-year plan and to attend the first–ever SEIU 1021 Member Convention.

On February 11-12, 2012, member delegates from across northern California will gather at the Oakland Airport Hilton to vote on major plans and projects of our union for the next two years. Our two-day convention will include prominent leaders from labor and the community, inspiring speakers from across the nation, and workshops to build our skills and to discuss important issues facing our union and society.

We live in the reality of a broken economy where decisions to eliminate jobs, cut wages and benefits, and slash services will continue to challenge us. Since the economic crisis started, we have noticed a trend — a new challenge — at the bargaining table: Our employers are hijacking the collective bargaining process and exercising their power to impose contract settlements.

More and more, our employers are refusing to work toward fair contract settlements, instead declaring an “impasse” in negotiations, then exercising their power to impose the contracts they want. Employers have rarely used this power before, but now they’re using it as fast as they can — instead of bargaining.

Last week in Mendocino County, the Board of Supervisors imposed its will and forced our members to take a 12.5% wage cut. Imposition threats are hovering over members in San Joaquin County, Solano County right now. Who’s next?

What do you think? Comment on the SEIU 1021 Two-Year Plan.

These are hard times.

We need a plan to champion public services and quality jobs.

What are your ideas?

Our Executive Board is working on a Two-Year Plan for to meet the challenges we face at our jobs in and our communities over the next two years. Delegates from every Chapter of our local will vote on this plan at the first-ever Local 1021 Convention in February 2012.

Here is a framework for creating our two-year plan. What do you think about these ideas? What would you add, change, or do differently?

First-Ever SEIU 1021 Member Convention: Feb. 11-12, 2012

Since the economic crisis started we have survived crippling layoffs, working longer hours with fewer resources. Our employers are looking to our wages and benefits to fill budget deficits instead of cutting back their own wasteful spending and misguided priorities.

We are not alone—workers from all over our union, all over the nation, are fighting cuts to the services. Many are fighting back and saving jobs and services. Since the crisis was caused by people – it can be turned around by people.

On February 11-12, 2012 at the SEIU 1021 Convention member delegates will gather for two days to provide maximum input and vote on major plans and projects setting the direction of our union for the next two years. The convention will explore:

• New strategies in fighting back our employers’ misguided priorities
• Electing and putting pressure on politicians
• Fighting for a fair economy and taxing the rich. The biggest corporations and the wealthiest Americans must pay their fair share.