Last September 2017,  SEIU 1021 Education Industry members called on Governor Jerry Brown to bridge the compensation gap during the summer break. Many of our members who work in K-12 do not get paid while school is out for summer. The 2018-19 state budget signed by Governor Brown includes $50 million dollars for a Summer Bridge Fund for classified employees. 
 
“The Summer Bridge Fund will allow classified employees to contribute up to 10% of their salary to the fund during the school year and the state will match their contributions dollar for dollar,” said Karla Faucett, Sacramento School District employee and SEIU 1021 Education Industry Chair.

School employees working K-12 will be able to access the funds during the summer break. School Districts must notify the Department of Education of their intent to participate in the program by January 2019.  The program will begin 2019-2020, with funds available to workers in the summer of 2020.

“We testified at the State Capital about the need for this compensation and by engaging in the political process together we were able to win,” said Faucett.