After months of negotiating in the midst of a global pandemic, SEIU 1021 members at the City of Berkeley have reached a tentative agreement (TA) with City management. Like so many SEIU 1021 members have experienced since the COVID-19 outbreak began, workers in Berkeley were fighting to protect vital City services, ensure workplace safety, and safeguard jobs.

“We are proud of the entire SEIU 1021 team for their work at the bargaining table and of every member of our union working for the City of Berkeley. COVID-19 has introduced new challenges to the negotiation process, but by standing strong in our union, we’ve been able to secure an agreement that will protect the health, safety, and financial wellbeing of all of our members during these difficult times,” said Chapter Presidents Danny Walker (Maintenance), Jenny Seay (Clerical), and Khin Chin (CSU) in a joint statement after the TA was reached.

Members across the different SEIU 1021 Chapters at the City, comprising CSU, Maintenance, and Clerical staff, all worked jointly over recent months to accomplish this victory. By bargaining jointly at the table together, they were able to ensure the strongest deal possible.

Members won a number of important victories in this new TA, including:

• Protections against layoffs
• Additional emergency paid sick leave
• Additional floating holidays
• Language governing provisional appointments
• New living wage standards

As the pandemic rages on, SEIU 1021 members are facing threats of furloughs, cuts to services, layoffs, and more. We know that the first place the boss always looks to make cuts is on the backs of frontline workers and the work we do for our communities—that’s why we must stay united and ready to defend our communities and the people who depend on us.