After nearly nine months of a hard-fought campaign, SEIU 1021 members of the City of Oakland chapter have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new two-year contract. Because of the unity showed by 1021 members, the City was forced to back down from their attempts to pull healthcare from City workers and to make it easier to hire their cronies instead of drawing from Oakland’s existing part-time workforce.  Workers will receive a 6% raise over the two years of the contract, and won improved contract language around health and safety.
 
City Council will now take the contract up at their next two meetings: November 5th and November 19th. The first paychecks reflecting the new raise is expected to come from the City before the end of the year.
 
“Our members showed tremendous unity and focus throughout the negotiations,” said chapter president Felipe Cuevas, a heavy equipment mechanic. “We’re proud of this new contract. We still have a long way to go, though. The City needs to respect all work and all workers, not just some. Our aim now is to move forward to find solutions to Oakland’s affordable housing crisis, our health and safety issues, and the City’s overuse of temporary, part-time workers. The fight goes on for the common good of our workers and our community.”