Newswire
A time to celebrate and activate: A statement from SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford on the 2026 midterm election results
From SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford:
As the results of the 2026 midterm elections continue to roll in, we are witnessing a reckoning. This is a historic moment, one we must savor and celebrate, and we must not take it for granted.
While not all the elections are called yet, one thing is clear—the American people have taken a stand against hatred, bigotry, and the divisive narrative that sought to weaponize our diversity; instead, we have chosen to be stronger together.
SEIU 1021 Convention 2027: Save the Date—20 Years of Building Worker Power!
Save the Date: 20 Years of Building Worker Power!
Mark your calendars! SEIU 1021’s 2027 convention is coming to Sacramento August 21–22, bringing members together to celebrate “20 Years of Building Worker Power!”
Together, we’ll commemorate two decades of organizing and winning—and help shape the next chapter of our union.
Workers and community advocates protest California Public Utilities Commission’s latest autonomous vehicle rules
Gig rideshare drivers, public transit workers, and community advocates rally in San Francisco, demanding a meaningful say in how autonomous vehicles expand in local communities
On Thursday, October 29, as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) prepared to vote on its latest rules governing commercial autonomous vehicles (AVs), workers and community advocates rallied outside the Commission’s meeting to demand that local communities have a say in where, when, and how AV companies expand their operations.
Community gathers at SF City Hall for Defend the Vote rally
Labor, faith, community, and civil rights leaders gathered on the front steps of San Francisco City Hall on Wednesday, October. 22, to encourage people to learn their rights, as well as exercise their voice and their vote. Voting is how the working class can secure money, power, and respect for all of us and demand billionaires and large corporations pay their fair share.
The event came as communities face increasing barriers to vote across the country with threats to the integrity of our elections.
City College staff, teachers, and students rally with local leaders, demand Board staff up, invest budget surplus in school
On Thursday, October 22, City College of San Francisco (CCSF) students, faculty, classified professionals, and community supporters held the Rally for the City College Our Students Deserve. Union members from SEIU 1021 and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT 2121) joined students and community members and called on GrowSF’s billionaire-backed CCSF Board of Trustees to bargain in good faith and end chronic understaffing, ongoing safety concerns, and underfunding of essential programs by providing sustainable staffing and resources.
Superior Court of San Joaquin County chapter ratifies new contract
After several months of negotiations, the Superior Court of San Joaquin County chapter has ratified a new contract addressing long-standing requests, wage increases, longevity pay, and significant comp time.
Here’s what was won:
San Francisco city and labor leaders gather to say NO on Prop 43
On Wednesday, October 7, city and labor leaders — including San Francisco Mayor Dan Laurie, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford, California Professional Firefighters President Darrell Roberts, and Evolve California Executive Director Ben Grieff — gathered in front of San Francisco Fire Department Station 5 to let the public know they are voting NO on Prop 43.
SEIU 1021 members at San Francisco MTA ratify new contract
Friday, October 9, SEIU 1021 members at San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency (SF MTA) ratified their union contract.
SEIU 1021 members stand with union demands from Palestine
On Friday, October 10, SEIU 1021 members took part in Oakland People’s Arms Embargo’s massive demonstration outside the Oakland offices of shipping giant FedEx. They rallied to draw attention to FedEx’s complicity in the genocide of Palestinians and to demand an end to FedEx military cargo shipments to Israel.
Among the 1021 members in attendance were North Coast Vice President Travis Balzarini, Non-Profit/Private Industry Chair Jeffery Dix, RN Industry Chair John Pearson, and Alameda Health Systems President and Retirement Security Committee Chair Maria Betancourt.
Join us at the Defend the Vote rally at SF City Hall
Thursday, Oct. 22
Our democracy is at stake. Republican lawmakers across the country are redrawing district lines to disenfranchise underserved and Black communities, and Trump’s Supreme Court is siding with them. These new maps are just one of the hurdles the GOP is putting up to make it harder for many Americans to vote and have their votes count.
Rideshare drivers, community advocates, and elected officials call on California Public Utilities Commission to increase local oversight over autonomous vehicles
On Thursday, October 8, driver leaders with the California Gig Workers Union and their community allies rallied outside the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) meeting in Sacramento to demand greater transparency, accountability and local control over commercial autonomous vehicles (AVs). The rally came ahead of a Commission vote on new rules governing how AVs are deployed and operated on California streets.
SEIU 1021 members at Dixon Unified School District overwhelmingly vote ‘YES’ on new contract
On Tuesday, October 6, SEIU 1021 members at Dixon Unified School District — including administrative support, financial services, food service, information technology, instructional support, maintenance, and operations — voted overwhelmingly in favor of their new successor contract covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
Newsom signs AB 1601, opening a path to the first Sonoma County pension COLA since 2008
Sonoma County retirees are one step closer to their first pension cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) since 2008.
Sunday, September 27, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1601. The law gives the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors the flexibility to grant COLAs to county and Superior Court retirees and their beneficiaries, and to target that relief to the people who need it most.
Joy is resistance! Fourth annual Latino Heritage Celebration builds unity and strength through celebration
Some Friday nights are better than others, challenging all other Fridays to step up.
That was the case Friday, October 2, 2026 — the fourth annual Latino Heritage Celebration in Oakland.
On that particular Friday, more than 300 SEIU 1021 members and their guests packed Oakland’s Just Dance Ballroom for good food, inspiring words, and dances from across Latin America. From start to finish, the room was full of hugs, group photos, and laughter.
Bringing the heat: Santa Clara University teaching faculty and allies rally in high spirits despite high temps
On Wednesday, September 30, more than 100 Santa Clara University (SCU) teaching faculty, tenure-stream colleagues, students, elected officials, fellow union members, and community allies rallied on campus, undeterred by the heat, in a powerful show of solidarity with teaching faculty and the time, expertise, and dedication they bring to their students.
SEIU 1021 members at San Francisco Citywide project jobs and services by ratifying a contract extension
On 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.
GOTV! Election Endorsements: Nov 3, 2026
Let’s elect pro-labor candidates and pass measures that help our communities!
Each election, SEIU 1021 members endorse candidates who will stand with us as we fight to win strong contracts and protect working standards.
Winning for our members is important. We do this by volunteering in elections and contributing to our Committee on Political Education (COPE) funds.
We urge members to participate in phone banking, canvassing, and other outreach initiatives to help us elect candidates who will fight for us and pass measures that will benefit workers across Northern California.
Click the links below to see what candidates and measures SEIU 1021 members have endorsed for the November 3, 2026 election, and see our upcoming volunteer opportunities here.
Peralta Community College District classified staff kick off bargaining with a united front
On Tuesday, September 22, nearly 100 SEIU 1021 members at Peralta Community College District (PCCD), along with community supporters, came together at Berkeley City College for the SEIU 1021 bargaining kickoff rally. Students, security guards, former PCCD staff, and passersby stopped, listened, asked questions, and stood with workers as members made clear why what happens at the bargaining table impacts everyone.
“We must protect working people!”
SEIU 1021 backs SF City Attorney’s lawsuit against Truth Social
Trump's social media app Truth Social is trying to enable insider trading by selling early access to Trump posts
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu announced today that he filed a lawsuit against Truth Social’s parent company for selling early access to Donald Trump’s Truth Social posts, aiding violations of federal ethics laws, and facilitating insider trading. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the People of the State of California, alleges Trump Media & Technology Group Corp.
