Search: Mendocino County

Rain couldn’t keep Region E members from coming together for their end-of-the-year unity event on Thursday, December December 21st – members gathered at the SEIU 1021 Stockton office to give out more than 350 turkeys to their fellow members.

Although the sky was dark and rainy, spirits were high.

Tuesday, December 19th, 2023, 700 Mendocino County workers – including road crews, public health nurses, and children’s social workers – voted to ratify a union contract with a 77% “yes” vote.

Hard-fought over nine months, this agreement will bring all classifications’ pay up to market rate. This agreement will also have Mendocino County pick up a higher percentage of the cost of employees’ healthcare. Ultimately, these improvements will begin to address the long-standing staffing issues that are harming Mendocino County’s children, seniors, and families.

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Contact: Ian Lee, ian.lee@seiu1021.org, (510) 384-7165

UKIAH, CA – Tuesday, December 19th, 2023, 700 Mendocino County workers – including road crews, public health nurses, and children’s social workers – voted to ratify a union contract with a 77% “yes” vote.

Today, September 26, Mendocino County workers rallied at the Board of Supervisors meeting to confront the Board over the County’s staffing crisis.

Last Tuesday, August 29, healthcare workers from across California rallied at the state capitol in downtown Sacramento. They were calling on lawmakers to support SB 525, a groundbreaking bill that would establish a $25 minimum hourly wage for healthcare professionals.

This wage would address staffing shortages by improving retention of existing healthcare workers and attracting new talent to the field. By pioneering this national wage standard, California hopes to set an example for the entire country.

On Friday, September 1, California State Controller Malia Cohen launched an audit of Mendocino County’s financial records. The audit comes in response to a formal request from SEIU 1021 North Coast Regional Vice President Mary Sandberg, who wrote her to express concerns about the County’s inability to provide accurate financial data – a situation that has severely hindered labor negotiations between the County and its employees.

Today, Tuesday, August 29, Mendocino County workers rallied at the Board of Supervisors meeting to defend county services. The rally comes after members voted last month by 92.4% to authorize a strike.

For the past five months, the county administration has refused to negotiate in good faith with its employees — all while staffing levels continue to hemorrhage. Fighting for the community’s access to road crews, public health nurses, children’s social workers, and other vital county services, County workers feel that the situation has become untenable.

On Friday, August 4, 2023, SEIU 1021 Region B Vice President Mary Sandberg made an official request to California State Controller Malia Cohen’s Office to conduct an audit and review of Mendocino County’s financial condition. A copy of the letter can be viewed here.

On Friday, July 28, SEIU Local 1021 Mendocino County Chapter members voted to authorize their bargaining team to call a strike if necessary. The strike authorization vote passed overwhelmingly, with 92.4% voting yes.