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Voters approved Proposition 22 over two years ago after app-based ride-hailing and delivery companies, including Uber, Lyft, Instacart, and DoorDash, spent more than $200 million marketing the ballot initiative to Californians as a boon to workers and customers. Despite the promise of flexible schedules, some worker benefits, and low prices, drivers are no better off than before—it has only allowed these companies to deprive them of a living wage, access to workers compensation, paid sick leave, and meaningful healthcare coverage while maximizing their own profits.

What do you do when the bosses throw parties to celebrate themselves? Starbucks workers in Seattle have an answer: Crash that party and make it your own. Starbucks Corporation is hosting a “Founders Day” event on Wednesday, March 22, in Seattle, Washington, to celebrate CEO Howard Schultz. Union members and supporters plan to be there as well for a party of their own that celebrates the real founders of Starbucks and its erstwhile progressive values: the workers.

The month of March is Women’s History Month. The month-long observance traces its beginnings back to Northern California, the jurisdiction of SEIU Local 1021, and to the first International Women’s Day, held on March 8, 1911. Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day highlight women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements to events in history and contemporary society.

As every union member knows, it can take a lot of effort to hold an employer accountable for the health and safety of its workers. That’s why, as part of the Fight for 15 and a Union coalition, SEIU 1021 members are pushing hard for lawmakers to pass AB 1228, a bill that would make large fast food corporations like McDonald’s liable for their California franchisees’ health and safety violations. The law would apply to fast food chains in California with at least a hundred locations across the United States.

The Dixon Unified School District school board meeting was flooded with a sea of purple last Thursday, March 2, as over 65 classified employees packed the chambers to share their stories during public comment and show support for their bargaining team, who have been negotiating a successor contract for 11 months.

At the request of SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra visited Laguna Honda Hospital to meet with SEIU 1021 members, members of other labor unions representing hospital workers, and Laguna Honda patients last Friday, February 24, 2023.

Secretary Becerra met the workers who keep Laguna Honda Hospital running and signaled his commitment to saving Laguna Honda from closure, but the hard work to recertify has to be done.