Thursday, September 24, the 11,000 SEIU 1021 members at the San Francisco Citywide (or “miscellaneous”) unit — a far-reaching bargaining unit covering most city workers in numerous departments, including public works, human services, 911 dispatch, and public libraries — ratified their union contract. (SEIU 1021 represents 3 bargaining units working for the City and County of San Francisco: Citywide, RNs, and MTA Service Critical. The latter two are not covered by this agreement.)

2025’s H.R. 1 — the Trump administration’s “Big Bad Bill” — will have devastating consequences for working people all across the country, including here in San Francisco. Specifically, the San Francisco Department of Public Health reimbursement cuts are estimated at $315M for FY2027-28, increasing to $400M when fully implemented by 2038. Between 25,400 and 50,500 San Franciscans are projected to lose Medi-Cal coverage. Of those losing coverage, an estimated 8,400-16,800 receive services from SFDPH.

At this time of crisis, we must protect critical public services.

SEIU 1021 member leader Valerie Tucker, who works as a 911 dispatch supervisor for the City, said: “The majority voted yes, and I think the number one reason is that the more people who continue to work and serve our city, the better our city is represented. This gives the union time to plan, prepare, and make sure we continue staffing our city.”

On August 20, Mayor Daniel Lurie asked to meet with the Public Employees Committee (a subcommittee of the SF Labor Council representing over 30 unions representing city workers). In the meetings that followed, union members and the Mayor discussed how best to protect critical public services.

Each union then took the Mayor’s offer back to its bargaining team or leadership for consideration. For SEIU 1021 members at San Francisco Citywide, the result is an agreement that guarantees no layoffs through June 30, 2029.

SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford said: “H.R. 1 has enacted the largest spending cuts in U.S. history. To weather the storm and be real about the economic challenges at the same time, we have this agreement that guarantees layoff protections and wage increases. There is nothing here that stops us from fighting the bosses, rallying, or marching. But it ensures that our members will not be laid off for at least three fiscal years.”