Issues & Legislation
Clinic worker joins lobby day in D.C. to help save Medicaid
Across the state, Americans are doing what they can to advocate for saving Medicaid. March 25 and 26, clinic workers like Flavia Tearney-Berthon flew to Washington, D.C., to lobby members of Congress for the cause for two days.
New pro-labor law in effect and healthcare workers’ minimum wage rising in 2025
California is enacting a new law this year, thanks to major backing from SEIU 1021. By engaging in numerous large, worker-led actions at the Capitol and sharing our personal stories, our collective effort has helped the public better understand the plight of workers. This work is paying off in monumental ways, as we see the fruits of our labor in 2025.
Senator Aisha Wahab of the East Bay drafted new legislation going into effect this year that cracks down on union-busting tactics when employers force workers to attend anti-union meetings.
We will keep fighting.
Statement on 2024 Election
Dear union siblings,
Like so many of you, I watched yesterday’s election results come in with deep disappointment. We looked forward to turning a page on one of the most divisive chapters in this country’s recent history. We worked hard to make that happen. While we knew all along that this outcome was very possible, perhaps even probable, we were determined to prevent it.
This morning, I am more determined than ever to stay in this fight and see it through. Our communities need and deserve nothing less.
Biden-Harris administration cancels $74 billion in student loan debt for public service workers
The Biden-Harris administration announced last week it had approved an additional $4.5 billion in student loan relief for more than 60,000 student loan borrowers working in public service—including educators, nurses, social workers, armed service members, and first responders.
Those new approvals marked a major milestone: $74 billion in student loan debt has been cancelled for 1 million public service workers.
SEIU 1021 members rally to support SF Prop B to upgrade public health facilities
The bond measure won't raise taxes, but will ensure the safety and the future of SF General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, clinics, and others.
SEIU 1021 members, including President Theresa Rutherford and Vice President of Organizing Brandon Dawkins, were among dozens of community members and union workers who came out to Portsmouth Square in Chinatown in San Francisco last Wednesday, September 24.
They were there alongside Board of Supervisors President and SEIU 1021 endorsed mayoral candidate Aaron Peskin, Mayor London Breed, and other elected leaders and candidates to show support for Prop B.
Chevron will pay a historic pollution tax that will fund city services in groundbreaking settlement with Richmond
In a major step forward for environmental justice, the City of Richmond and Chevron have reached a historic settlement that will significantly increase taxes for the Chevron Richmond refinery.
The leadership of Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez and Councilmember Claudia Jimenez were instrumental in reaching this deal. This is an unprecedented victory for the city and its residents, who have long advocated for Richmond’s biggest polluters to pay their fair share.
This agreement will:
SEIU 1021 Executive Board passes divestment resolution
On Saturday, July 27, the SEIU Local 1021 Executive Board passed a divestment resolution drafted by rank-and-file members of 1021 Members for Palestine Divestment Committee.
SEIU 1021 members join SF Sup. Peskin to call for affordable workforce housing construction
Monday, August 5, SEIU 1021 members joined San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin at a press conference to call for immediate implementation of a recently-approved ordinance to fund acquisition and construction of affordable workforce and middle-income housing.
SEIU members rally at California State Capitol to advocate for a fair budget for Californians
Hundred of union members from across the state came together in solidarity to speak out against proposed budget cuts
On Tuesday, June 11, hundreds of SEIU members from across the state marched and rallied alongside community allies at the California State Capitol in Sacramento to advocate for their vision of a fair budget for Californians.
The updated state budget as of May 10 reduces one-time spending by $19.1 billion and ongoing spending by $13.7 billion until 2025-26.
Exclusive San Francisco mayoral candidate town hall hosted for SEIU 1021 members
SEIU 1021 members packed a room at the San Francisco union hall on Tuesday, June 4, for an exclusive event. The town hall featured the top five candidates running to become San Francisco’s next mayor.
SF Supervisor Ahsha Safaí introduces ballot measure to address first responder shortage
San Francisco District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí joined nurses, 911 dispatchers, and other essential city workers outside of San Francisco General Hospital on Tuesday, May 21, to announce a ballot measure to address the city’s shortage of first responders.
Join the June 11 march and rally for a fair budget in Sacramento
MARCH FOR A BUDGET NOW! MARCH & RALLY FOR A SECURE CALIFORNIA SAFETY NET
SEIU 1021 members: Mark your calendars for an important event! Join SEIU members from around the state on Tuesday, June 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Sacramento for a march and rally advocating for a fair and balanced budget for all Californians.
SEIU 1021 members lobby state legislators to protect workers and the environment
Last week, San Francisco resilience GIS analyst and SEIU 1021 member Alex Morrison joined other SEIU members from across California to rally in Sacramento. They advocated for lawmakers to invest in public sector approaches to fighting climate change.
He said, “Addressing climate change will take an unprecedented effort, to keep fossil fuels in the ground and fundamentally change how we approach people meeting their needs in our society.
“This is going to be huge”
California Supreme Court upholds Alameda County's Measure C, unlocking hundreds of millions of dollars for early health and education for children
On Wednesday, April 24 the California State Supreme Court upheld the validity of 2020’s Measure C, The Children’s Health and Child Care Initiative for Alameda County.
A major priority for SEIU 1021, Measure C passed in 2020 with overwhelming voter support after a coalition of community, labor, health, and early childhood stakeholders gathered over 57,000 signatures to qualify a ballot initiative.
Statement from SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford on passage of San Francisco Proposition F
Media contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, (510) 710-0201, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org
“SEIU Local 1021 filed an Unfair Practice Charge today. In the Unfair Practice Charge, we asked the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to void Proposition F on the ground that the City failed to provide the union prior notice or opportunity to bargain over the impacts of it before placing it on the ballot. We will also file a Request to Expedite, which asks PERB to put this case to the front of its queue due to the urgency of the matter.
Union members rally for Prop 1 with Gov. Newsom at SEIU 2015 in San Francisco
They then headed out to knock on doors and make calls to get out the vote.
On Monday, March 4, the eve of the primary election, members of SEIU 1021, SEIU 2015, building trades unions, and other unions filled SEIU 2015’s San Francisco union hall to rally for Proposition 1. The rally had a special guest: the ballot measure’s own author and chief proponent, Governor Gavin Newsom.
Proposition 1 would create a $6.4 billion bond that would pay for the construction of new treatment beds and housing for people struggling with mental health and severe substance abuse.
SF union members brave rain to get out the vote for Prop B
Dozens of volunteers came to the Prop B campaign kickoff, then hit the streets to get the word out to voters
On a rain-soaked Saturday morning last weekend, dozens of volunteers–many of them union members–came together in the Richmond district in San Francisco. They were in sneakers and jackets, ready to brave the elements to get the word out to voters: San Francisco needs Prop B for public safety.
Celebrating success: Solano County Superior Court chapter reaches tentative agreement
SEIU 1021’s dedicated members at Solano County Superior Court successfully reached a tentative agreement after a series of escalating actions that got the public’s attention through media coverage.
Highlights include:
Victory for SF City workers: Budget-draining legislation neutralized by amendment requiring new funding
The Safer Smarter SF Coalition turned out again on Monday, Nov. 6, and pushed the Rules Committee to pass the amended version
Yesterday, Monday, November 6, San Francisco City and County workers and supporters once again packed the SF Board of Supervisors Rule Committee. This time, their goal was to push the committee to pass the version of the charter amendment introduced two weeks ago by Sup. Matt Dorsey containing Sup. Ahsha Safaí’s amendment to the full Board of Supervisors. And they won an important early victory: The amended version of the legislation passed 2-1, with only Sup. Dorsey voting against his own bill.
SEIU 1021 members host a statewide conference to build unity in the fight for climate justice
Last Saturday, November 4, more than 150 SEIU members from across California met in person at the SEIU 1021 San Francisco office and via Zoom for a Climate Justice Conference, hosted by SEIU Local 1021.
President Theresa Rutherford welcomed members from SEIU 1021, 221, 721, 1000, 2015, and USWW, saying, “Climate change is not a phenomenon: It’s now a crisis, and it has been for a long time. It disproportionately affects Black and brown people, and that’s why SEIU 1021 has made this a priority.”