Newswire
2023 East Bay Unity Party Recap
The East Bay Unity event held at the Oakland Airport Hilton last Friday was a night to remember for SEIU 1021 members and their guests. The evening was filled with laughter, joy, and unity as members won prizes from a raffle before they hit the dance floor. SEIU 1021 members enjoyed a delightful dinner and delicious drinks and posed for memorable snapshots at the photo booth. Members brought brand-new, unwrapped toys and coats to donate to children in need.
Join us for an inspiring evening of art and organizing with “Art Works: How Organizers and Artists Are Creating a Better World Together” author Ken Grossinger
SEIU 1021’s Social and Economic Justice Committee invites SEIU 1021 members, artists, and organizers to a captivating book discussion with Ken Grossinger, author of “Art Works: How Organizers and Artists Are Creating a Better World Together.” This engaging event will take place on Wednesday, December 13th, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the San Francisco Union Hall, located at 350 Rhode Island (Kansas Street side).
Event Highlights:
Thousands of Starbucks workers walk out on Red Cup Day
On Thursday, November 16, thousands of Starbucks employees nationwide walked off the job during one of the busiest days of the company’s year: a promotional “Red Cup Day,” in which Starbucks hands out free red cups. In Northern California, workers staged labor actions at Starbucks stores in Berkeley, Emeryville, Fairfield, Hayward, Oakland, Pleasanton, Sacramento, San Francisco, Stockton, and Sunnyvale.
Yuba City Starbucks workers win union election
The store is the 30th unionized location in the state
On Friday, November 17, Starbucks workers at the Highway 20 and Tharp store in Yuba City, CA, successfully voted to form a union by a vote of 12-5. This union victory marks the thirtieth store to unionize in California.
SEIU 1021 members and staff join in civil disobedience at APEC protests
No on APEC Coalition protesters blocked CEOs from entering the CEO Summit
At the break of dawn last Wednesday, November 15, SEIU 1021 members and staff were already convening downtown with other local unions and community organizations, preparing to take over the intersection of Mission and 5th Street in San Francisco.
As they reached the intersection, they fanned out, linked arms, and formed chains around the intersection, which was a main entrance to the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.
San Francisco Unified and Sacramento Unified School District SEIU 1021 members ratify historic contracts, keep momentum going
As we move into the holiday season, there is much to celebrate and rejoice over. Unions are winning their strongest contracts yet in school districts across Northern California. And, while several districts remain in bargaining, there is good reason to think that the positive trend of historic contracts will continue through to the new year!
Classified workers at Vacaville Unified School District continue to show up, speak out
Amid bargaining frustrations, SEIU 1021 members refuse to settle for lowball offers
The fight for more staffing and a livable wage continues!
On Thursday, November 16, over 60 classified Vacaville Unified School District (VUSD) staff members again attended the Board of Trustees meeting to voice their ongoing concerns and frustrations with the District. This follows the November 2 action, where at least 60 members supported each other and shared their frustration with the lack of progress in bargaining due to the District’s ongoing refusal to raise wages above the bare minimum.
SEIU 1021 members join massive protest against APEC Summit in San Francisco
Thousands of protesters filled Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco last Sunday, November 12, in a massive demonstration against the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. Among them were numerous SEIU 1021 members and staff.
Member interview: Bruce Boyer on Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month, a month where we celebrate the traditions, languages, and history of Native Americans.
We sat down with SEIU 1021 member leader Bruce Boyer, who works at Sacramento City Unified School District as classified staff.
Q: What tribe are you with?
A: I’m with the Apache tribe.
Q: What issues do you see for Native Americans in the workforce, and how do unions help?
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 Treasurer Amos Eaton runs for re-election for Board of Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association
SEIU 1021 Treasurer Amos Eaton is running for re-election to the Board of Retirement at the Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association (SCERA). SCERA is a public employee retirement system that provides retirement, disability, death, and survivor benefits for employees of Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley Fire District, and the Superior Court of California at Sonoma County.
Vacaville Unified School District classified workers rally to demand fair wages and support from administration in the face of severe understaffing and safety concerns
On Thursday, November 2nd, over 60 Vacaville Unified School District (VUSD) classified staff attended the Board of Trustees meeting to voice their ongoing concerns and frustrations with the district.
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.”
SEIU 1021, other SF unions speak out against proposed charter amendment that would decimate City budget
Union members flooded the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee meeting to make their voices heard
Monday, October 30, dozens of members of SEIU 1021, IFTPE Local 21, and San Francisco building trades unions filled the SF Board of Supervisors Rules Committee chambers to overflowing. One by one, they gave public comment protesting a charter amendment proposed by Supervisor Matt Dorsey that would decimate the City’s budget.
Marin Water staff ratify strong new contract
Tuesday, October 24, SEIU 1021 members at Marin Municipal Water District voted 80% to ratify a strong new contract – with significant increases in wages, health and welfare benefits, holidays, and vacations.
Hundreds of SF City College staff, faculty, and supporters rally for a fair contract
SEIU 1021 members move closer to a strike as board continues bad faith bargaining
Thursday, October 26, hundreds of City College of San Francisco (CCSF) classified staff (SEIU 1021), and faculty (AFT 2121), rallied outside the CCSF Board of Trustees meeting alongside students and concerned community members in a show of solidarity. Both unions have been bargaining since March and report ongoing frustrations with the board’s continued refusal to come to the table in good faith.
SEIU 1021 members at BrightSpring celebrate successful ratification of statewide contract
In a remarkable show of unity, SEIU 1021 members at BrightSpring Health Services unanimously ratified their statewide contract.
Higher education members read at first-ever SEIU 1021 Lit Crawl event, “Unionized Words”
The event included adjunct professors from California College of the Arts and Dominican University
Saturday, October 21, marked a first for our union: a special reading by SEIU 1021 members working in higher education at the annual San Francisco Lit Crawl. Elizabeth Travelslight and Hugh Behm-Steinberg of California College of the Arts (CCA) and Robert Moses and Bobby Bradford of Dominican University read their writings at “Unionized Words” at Sour Cherry Comics.
We did it! SB 525 victory recap video
A monumental win for California healthcare workers!
Governor Gavin Newsom officially signed SB 525 into law on October 13, marking a monumental win for healthcare workers nationwide. This victory is a testament to the power of collective action and dedicated advocacy.