Newswire
Cal Academy Workers United score big victory with resignation of Executive Director Scott Sampson
SEIU 1021 members at the Cal Academy of Sciences—Cal Academy Workers United (CAWU)—are used to fighting management. They fought an anti-union campaign led by Academy Executive Director Scott Sampson and his senior leadership team as they organized their union. In 2023, they won by a landslide.
As clinic closure date nears, seniors, healthcare workers fight back against SFDPH cuts, call out CEOs opposing Prop D
The mayor’s cuts are hitting seniors, LGBTQ youth, high-risk new mothers, and nursing home patients hard—as billionaires and CEOs dump money to fight the business tax that could protect their services. Impacted residents & workers rallied Wednesday
The San Francisco Department of Public Health, at the direction of Mayor Lurie, is making deep cuts that disproportionately impact the city’s most vulnerable residents: seniors with mental illness, LGBTQ and homeless youth, new and expecting mothers facing tough health and/or personal challenges, medically fragile long-term care residents at Laguna Honda Hospital. While Mayor Lurie blames the city’s budget deficit for the cuts, he has come out against Prop D, which would bring in as much as $300M in revenue a year to protect public services like these.
California Gig Workers Union takes major step to represent gig rideshare drivers throughout the state
At a press conference today, Tuesday, May 12th, gig drivers from around the state announced that they filed a petition with the state requesting that the California Gig Workers Union (CGWU) represent them in collective bargaining negotiations with rideshare companies — a milestone in drivers’ effort to unionize under California’s newly enacted Assembly Bill 1340 (AB 1340). Over several months, drivers have collected tens of thousands of signatures from fellow gig workers seeking to form a union with CGWU.
Cal Academy members ramp up fight against layoffs with direct action, petition of no confidence in executive director
For the third time in five years, Cal Academy of Sciences Executive Director Scott Sampson has announced layoffs, this time affecting 37 SEIU 1021 Cal Academy Workers United (CAWU) members. The layoff list includes the entire planetarium team and the content developer team, which collaborated with several indigenous communities in California on the award-winning California: State of Nature exhibit.
96.5% voted YES to ratify new City of Lathrop contract
We did it! The City of Lathrop bargaining team was able to negotiate a contract that positively impacts EVERY member. 96.5% of members voted YES! Look below at some of the highlights in the new contract effective 7/1/2026.
They secured significant across-the-board wage increases:
- 4% COLA on 7/1/2026
- 4% COLA on 7/1/2027
Health Insurance:
Cafeteria Option for Employee Only and employees that opt out of the City H/I plan
Vacaville Unified Schools classified members refuse to stay silent, over 100 rally
On Thursday, May 7, over 130 classified SEIU 1021 members at the Vacaville Unified School District (VUSD), from paraprofessionals, to maintenance workers, custodians, transportation workers, clerks, and nutrition and IT workers, attended the VUSD school board meeting that evening to once more raise concerns about staffing shortages, workplace safety, and contract negotiations they say are affecting both employees and students.
Across Northern California, SEIU 1021 members rise up for May Day
From San Francisco to Sacramento, from Santa Rosa to Stockton, SEIU 1021 members decked out in their new purple May Day shirts took to the streets Friday, May 1, in solidarity with workers around the country and around the world.
Election Endorsements: June 2, 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 June 2, 2026 election, and see our upcoming volunteer opportunities here.
Remembering the Armenian Genocide 111 years later
SEIU 1021 member Cynthia Landry recalls how her grandmother escaped the death marches
SEIU 1021 member and social worker for Alameda County Social Services, Cynthia Landry, always had “the fight” in her. She was raised by a strong-willed, progressive matriarch where she grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. Her East Coast accent, light-colored hair and eyes framed by darker brows make it hard to distinguish her roots, so Landry proudly shares that she is half Armenian.
SEIU 1021 members tell Alameda County: “It’s time to get serious!”
On Tuesday, April 28 hundreds of SEIU 1021 members joined together outside Alameda County’s main admin building in Oakland to call for a fair contract now.
SF museum guards protest outside de Young Museum’s gala
On April 16, 2026, San Francisco Museum Civil Service members held a protest outside the de Young Museum during the gala event. The protest was in response to management’s decision to reduce night staffing and implement schedule changes they claim will improve coverage—without providing any supporting data or analysis.
San Francisco SEIU 1021 members turn up the heat on the mayor to fight cuts, layoffs, and closures
800 union members turned out April 15, and 150+ to the Health Commission meeting on April 20
Since Mayor Lurie’s administration announced 127 layoffs, the closure of three beloved community clinics, and program cuts the first week of April, SEIU 1021 members have been taking a hard stand. Last Wednesday, April 15, about 800 union members gathered at San Francisco General Hospital at lunchtime and marched, taking over Potrero Avenue, to send a strong message to the mayor: No cuts, no layoffs, no closures.
(Still) fighting for a fair contract: tensions escalate between union members and disdainful DUSD Board president
At the Thursday, April 16, Dixon Unified School District board meeting, tensions between DUSD classified professionals and district leadership were on full display. SEIU 1021 members showed up to speak about ongoing contract negotiations, which began last May. They were met with dismissive and, at times, mocking responses from union-endorsed Board President Julian Cuevas, who seems to have forgotten his once-solid union values.
Join us for the Annual API Heritage Month celebration
Our moment to shine. Together we’re golden!
Unionware ID: 35806. ***PLEASE RSVP BELOW***
Come celebrate AAPI Heritage Month! We’re done hiding. We’re shining–like we’re born to be! We’ve come so far and now we’re going up, up, up. This is our moment.
50 Uber & Lyft drivers gather at SEIU 1021 San Francisco office to learn how to build their labor unions
On Monday, April 13, 50 Uber and Lyft drivers from llinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and California gathered at SEIU 1021’s San Francisco office for a training on how to build a labor union of gig drivers.
SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford opened the convening with a clear message: “You’re all here because, just like SEIU 1021 members at cities and counties, you know you deserve a union. You deserve a living wage. You deserve benefits. You deserve representation and dignity.”
SF city workers denounce Layoffs, call for “fair solutions that stand up to Trump”
Monday, April 6, Mayor Lurie’s administration issued layoff notices to San Francisco city workers, including 62 SEIU 1021 members across 12 departments.
And it’s not over: The mayor has announced that he is still committed to eliminating a total of 500 positions across the City, with a second phase of layoffs reportedly to come around the time he releases his proposed budget at the end of May or early June. City workers are deeply concerned that these cuts will further strain already understaffed departments that keep San Francisco clean, safe, and livable.
SEIU 1021 members speak up for jobs and peace
SEIU 1021 members are speaking up to make a difference from Oakland to overseas, and everyone is invited to come play their part.
On Saturday, April 11, we’ll kick off our campaign to support Measure E in Oakland. This grassroots measure, the Oakland Public Safety, Cleanliness and Community Accountability Act, is designed to keep fire stations open, connect homeless people to the services they need, and fund solutions to illegal dumping.
NO KINGS — but LOTS of SEIU 1021 members!
Across the country this past weekend, millions upon millions took to the streets for the third NO KINGS protests. There was something for everybody who loves democracy there, and one thing we all know as union members is that our country works best, just like our worksites work best, when everybody’s voice gets heard!
Over 200 SEIU 1021 member leaders gather for third Fightback convening
They strategized on building member power for May Day and beyond
Thursday, March 26, nearly 250 member leaders of SEIU 1021—including executive board members, chapter officers, convention delegates, and other rank and file members who have stepped up in organizing and mobilizing—gathered in Vacaville for the third Fightback convening.
Newly named Farmworkers Day continues to celebrate labor achievements
Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom quickly signed into a law proclaiming Tuesday, March 31, Farmworkers Day. The move came following allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation of women dedicated to the farmworkers’ rights movement by one of its most prominent and celebrated leaders: César Chávez.