SEIU 1021 members at Solano County hold holiday community walk to sound alarm on staffing crisis
They canvassed local businesses dressed as Santa’s helpers to raise awareness
Thursday, December 4, SEIU 1021 members working for Solano County launched a holiday community walk to warn residents about how the growing staffing crisis is affecting public services. Beginning at 675 Texas Street in Fairfield, workers dressed as Santa’s helpers and holiday elves visited local businesses to post “Solano for All” signs and speak directly with the community about the impacts of understaffing.
The County’s refusal to bargain in good faith is driving widespread vacancies that have already begun impacting public safety and essential services:
- Six vacant Sheriff’s dispatch positions, delaying emergency response.
- More than 200 vacancies in Health & Social Services, with an average of $32.2 million in underspent staffing funds over five years, is causing dangerous delays in Medi-Cal and SNAP benefits.
“Our community deserves fully staffed, safe, reliable public services,” said SEIU 1021 Regional Vice President Elizabeth Harrison, who works as a social worker in adult protective services for Solano County. “We’re out here talking directly to residents and businesses because Solano County needs to hear what the public already knows: Chronic understaffing puts all of us at risk.”
Participants walked from 675 Texas Street to 950 Texas Street and back, stopping at businesses along the route to distribute flyers and raise visibility.