SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 521
SEIU 521 Negotiating Team, both the master
and small bargaining tables, have met since
April 29. The County is demanding massive wage
and benefit cuts to close the budget gap, not to
mention massive layoffs and service cuts.
We face extreme challenges: California’s
overall economic problems; the State’s and
the County’s budget deficits; plus the County's
inability to state exactly how much they will need
to settle the contract. All these factors made it
impossible for us to meet the contract’s June 12
expiration deadline.
Our goal is EQUITABLE and temporary cuts.
So far, the County has not shown it understands what EQUITABLE means. The County is
demanding $53 million in takeaways from us. This averages to $6,600 per SEIU 521 worker,
per year.
What’s in the County takeaway proposal?
Suspend all our step increases
Force Health Net families to pay $127.71 per pay period; Kaiser individuals to pay $4.80
per pay period more
Raise Kaiser and Health Net co-pays to $15 dollars per visit; eliminate the rebate
Have workers pay 4% towards their PERS retirement
Eliminate 2 paid holidays
Exclude sick time in calculating overtime; remove the overtime 4-hour guarantee
Require members to start paying $55.50 per pay period for future health insurance when
they retire
6 unpaid furlough days
Bargaining units are still in negotiations with important takeaways on the table:
Changing the Environmental Health Specialists’ decade-long successful 4-10 schedule
Weakening the current child protective services caseload standards putting children at risk
Reclassifying eligibility workers downward in pay and eliminating caseload standards in the
near future
WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT....
See Side 2 for next steps and what it means to work without a contract..
SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 521
Working without a contract: What does it mean? We will con nue to work  The county cannot change our wages or working condi ons.  All benefits, including health care, will remain in effect.  All Personal Business/Belief days may be taken by June 26, but we will not receive new Personal Business/Belief days un l our contract is se led.  The grievance procedure con nues, but the county may refuse to arbitrate grievances filed during this period.  We have the right to take unfair disciplines to Personnel Board.  We have the legal right to par cipate in “concerted ac vity.” We can wear bu ons and s ckers, distribute union leaflets and take ac on by par cipa ng in informa onal picke ng. Next Steps! Vote June 20!
Come see the county’s offer and provide input for our Nego a ng Team. We will vote on next steps including asking for strike sanc on from the Labor Council and preparing for other ac ons including striking if necessary. All members are strongly encouraged to come. Non‐members may join at the door. Only members may vote in any Union elec ons. VOTE TIMES AND LOCATIONS:
nd
 Valley Medical Center Cafeteria Conference Room (2
Floor) – 5:30-8:30 a.m.
st
 Valley Medical Center Rehab Conference Room (1 Floor) – 3:45-5:45 p.m.
st
 Isaac Newton Senter Auditorium at 70 West Hedding (1 Floor) – 3:30-6:30 p.m.
 Gilroy Family Center at 7350 Rosanna Street, Gilroy – 3:30-6:30 p.m.
 SEIU Local 521 office at 2302 Zanker Road, San Jose – 4:30-7:00 p.m.
 CalWorks at 1879 Senter Road, San Jose (Pending Confirmation - time to be announced)
SAME-DAY VOTE COUNT:
 SEIU Local 521 office at 2302 Zanker Road, San Jose - 7:30pm
© 2011 SEIU 521 CTW-CLC
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San Jose/Chapters/SCCO/Publication/Working Without a Contract 061311.pub