Newswire
SEIU 1021 leaders participate in endorsement process of U.S. Senate race
SEIU 1021 member leaders participated in the SEIU California State Council’s endorsement meeting for the 2024 United States Senate election in California last weekend. They joined SEIU locals and affiliates across California in a show of worker political power.
Asian Health Services workers vote unanimously to authorize strike
Administration's inaction on staffing concerns pushes workers toward drastic action
After eight months of stalled negotiations and delays, SEIU 1021 members at Asian Health Services (AHS) voted by 100% to authorize a strike if their bargaining team calls for one. Over 80% of the chapter’s membership voted.
A nonprofit agency that receives federal HHS funding, AHS provides primary, mental health, and dental care and case management to over 50,000 patients, most of whom are low-income and many of whom are immigrants and refugees.
San Francisco Starbucks workers win landslide union election
The store on 9th & Irving is San Francisco’s second Starbucks to unionize in recent months
Last week, Starbucks workers at the 9th and Irving store in San Francisco, California, won their election for union representation by a landslide. They voted YES for their union by a count of 13 to 5. This is the second San Francisco Starbucks to win a union election, after the Castro Starbucks location, which voted to form a union a year ago.
Asian Health Services workers march for fair wages and quality care
On August 11, 2023, Asian Health Services (AHS) staff united in a march from their main Chinatown clinic to AHS headquarters. Chants of “Shame on You!” echoing through the streets, AHS workers conveyed their frustration over stalled contract negotiations for fair wages and benefits.
Dr. Star Yang, a doctor at AHS, highlighted the teamwork that drives their mission. “AHS staff are my community. Work wouldn’t be as fun without them, and I actually cannot do my job without them! We are a team, and we need all members to function well.”
Coalition announces creation of ‘Sacramento Forward’ to address housing & homelessness crisis
Tuesday, August 8, 2023, a coalition of labor (including SEIU 1021), community groups, and elected leaders announced the creation of Sacramento Forward at a press conference outside Sacramento City Hall.
Sacramento Forward is a comprehensive policy proposal to address Sacramento’s housing and homelessness crisis. Sacramento Forward has five main prongs:
Felton Institute workers and community rally to demand critical health and safety improvements and a fair contract
Management’s refusal to address ongoing safety concerns, negotiate a fair contract, and stop interfering with their employees’ union organizing efforts have workers and SF Supervisors furious
Last Thursday, August 10, at noon, Felton Institute workers and concerned community members rallied outside of the Felton Family Development Center to demand management address their ongoing concerns about the health and safety of staff and clients at Felton sites. They also presented a petition for these changes that has garnered hundreds of signatures.
SEIU 1021 Vice President requests state controller audit of Mendocino County
On Friday, August 4, 2023, SEIU 1021 Region B Vice President Mary Sandberg made an official request to California State Controller Malia Cohen’s Office to conduct an audit and review of Mendocino County’s financial condition. A copy of the letter can be viewed here.
San Jose fast-food workers rally for higher wages and improved working conditions
Fast-food workers in San Jose gathered in a powerful display of solidarity, demanding higher wages and better working conditions on August 2, 2023. The rally was organized by a coalition of local labor unions and advocacy groups, including SEIU Local 1021 and the Fight for $15 & a Union campaign. It drew a diverse crowd of employees from various fast-food chains. Demonstrators voiced their grievances against the persistent issues of low wages and poor working conditions that have plagued the industry for years.
Help fight off a Bay Area traffic nightmare
Tell your elected official to support SB 532 to keep transit safe, accessible, and reliable
Public transit systems in the Bay Area, including AC Transit, BART, and SF Muni, are facing a fiscal cliff due to declining revenues from riders. Without an infusion of revenue, these agencies will be forced to implement drastic cuts that will hurt Bay Area residents who depend on public transit, harm efforts to reduce air pollution, and cost SEIU 1021 members at Muni and BART their jobs.
Public Employment Relations Board rules San Francisco City & County workers have right to strike
The Board struck down provisions in the city charter prohibiting strikes
On July 24, the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) struck down provisions in the San Francisco City Charter that violated city workers’ rights.
On the list of violations: prohibiting city workers from striking; requiring termination of striking city workers; and stripping workers rehired after striking of their seniority.
Starbucks workers on cross-country “Starbus” tour rally at San Francisco City Hall
On Monday July 31, dozens of unionizing Starbucks workers on a cross-country “Starbus” tour rallied at San Francisco City Hall. They were joined by fast-food workers with the Fight for 15, SEIU 1021 members, community organizations, and elected officials.
Mendocino County employees vote to authorize strike
On Friday, July 28, SEIU Local 1021 Mendocino County Chapter members voted to authorize their bargaining team to call a strike if necessary. The strike authorization vote passed overwhelmingly, with 92.4% voting yes.
San Joaquin County members shame Board of Supervisors for failing to adopt Juneteenth
On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, SEIU 1021 members returned to the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors meeting chambers to deliver a message: “Shame on you.”
Asian Health Services members turn out in huge numbers to strike school
Asian Health Services strike school on July 20 was a huge success, with over half of AHS SEIU 1021 members in attendance. Participants heard important information from SEIU 1021’s legal team and discussed strategies for a successful strike if necessary.
SEIU 1021 AHS members’ recent picket on July 17 had a tremendous impact on the bargaining table, but they’re keeping the momentum going with daily picketing at ALL AHS Sites from July 31 to August 11 between 12 pm and 2 pm.
Support clean air and a healthy climate (and enter to win a t-shirt)!
Submit a comment to the EPA on the proposed standards to cut climate pollution
The time to do nothing is long gone. With ever-growing examples of climate change’s harmful effects, it’s clear the consequences disproportionately affect working people and people of color. SEIU members, families, and communities are directly impacted by the threats of air and water pollution and extreme weather events.
Power plants are responsible for approximately 25% of the climate pollution that threatens our health and the health of our families, communities, and environment.
United Felton Workers demand management stop risking the health and safety of children, staff, and clients
Sign the petition to keep the clients and workers of Felton Institute safe
There are serious concerns about the health and safety of the children and workers at Felton Institute. In the 2022-2023 school year, staff reported several disturbing events across Felton’s Early Care and Education sites that put the health and safety of many at risk. Make your voice heard and demand crucial changes in the workplace to meet the health and safety needs of the Felton community.
Mendocino County Workers rally in the midst of strike vote to save county services
On Thursday, July 20, Mendocino County workers rallied in the midst of a strike vote to save county services.
Despite total revenue for Mendocino County having increased 44.8% since 2019-2020, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has continued to bargain in bad faith with its employees. In the most recent negotiations, the County suggested that its employees pay more for their healthcare and retirement – an overall pay cut that will further harm the County’s ability to address its staffing crisis.
Come to our rally to show your support for unionizing Starbucks workers
Monday, July 31, Noon, SF City Hall
Unionizing Starbucks workers have been driving their “Starbus” across the country to raise awareness of their fight to bring union protections to the coffee giant. This coming Monday, they’re hitting San Francisco!
Cal Academy of Sciences Workers Vote to Unionize with SEIU 1021 in Landslide Election
After many months of organizing, workers voted by 77% to form their union, Cal Academy Workers United
Roughly 350 employees of the California Academy of Sciences will now be members of SEIU 1021 following a high turnout National Labor Relations Board election that saw 77% of eligible workers voting, of whom 77% voted yes. Votes were counted Friday, July 21.
“That’s a Wrap!” SAG–AFTRA members go on strike in the era of streaming and AI
July 14, 2023, marked the first time that the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG–AFTRA) have walked out on strike simultaneously since 1960.
Both the 2023 SAG–AFTRA and WGA strikes have contributed to the most significant interruption to the United States television and film industries since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.