521 Wins

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Winning for Our Members

March 2007 to March 2008

Local 521 Wins 2007-2008  

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Local 521 Wins 2007-2008  "Winning for Our Members",
March 2007 to March 2008
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Member Victories

Santa Clara County

Protection of Jobs/Public Services
• Saved up to 1,000 jobs when facing extreme budget deficit
• Prevented cuts from community mental health, public health and social services affecting more than 25,000 people



Santa Cruz County protest to Board of Supervisors.

Santa Cruz County protest to Board of Supervisors.
Santa Cruz County

Salary
• 3% in 2008, 2.5% in 2009, plus parity adjustment
• Increase in shift differentials

Retirement
• Removed PERS cap (equivalent to 4.3% increase in take home pay)

Other Benefits
• Extra help workers eligible for paid leave and step increases

Union Security & Worker Rights
• Release time for two Chapter officers to attend Board of Supervisors meetings
• Improved transfer language
• Grievance rights for discrimination violations
• Improved the timelines for grievance appeals

Santa Cruz County rally in 9/2007
  Santa Cruz County rally in September 2007.



City of Santa Cruz

Salary
• 19% increase over 3 years (including elimination of retirement deduction)

Retirement
• Elimination of 7% retirement deduction



City of Menlo Park—Contract & Privatization

Salary
• Stand-by pay increased to $2.75 hour
• A wage increase October 2007 and October 2008

Retirement
• Enhanced retirement plan of 2.7% at 55 (Effective 2009)

Benefits
• Increased City contributions to dental and vision fund to $110 per Increased sick leave accrual max to 1,440 hours
• Won fight against privatization of the City of Menlo Park’s childcare center

Local Politics
• Voted out two incumbents and voted in two union supporters in the last Menlo Park City Council race. This led to winning the 2.7% @ 55 retirement plan the Union had been fighting to get for years. Also led to the resignation of the City manager that the union saw as antiworker.



City of Palo Alto

• Won 2.7% at 55 retirement plan
• Won fight against privatization of City’s park maintenance

Palo Alto temporary and permanent worker
Palo Alto temporary and permanent workers picketed for temp worker recognition and a fair contract.



Monterey County

Benefits
• Stopped Board of Supervisors from passing healthcare plan cost increase onto members

Protection of Jobs/Public Services
• Fought County's attempt to partially privatize Natividad Medical Center (public hospital). worked with management to develop strategies to strengthen the hospital's finances. As a result of our cooperative relationship, Natividad remains public and eliminated a $20 million deficit.



City of East Palo Alto

Local Politics
• Defeated landlords attempt to overturn rent control
• Protect services at budget hearing

East Palo Alto members attend budget meetings



City of Hollister

Protection of Jobs/Public Services
• Passed sales tax initiative in Hollister to help bolster the city's financial health and allow employees to be compensated fairly for the first time in years

City of Hollister workers
City of Hollister workers supported Measure T and won, giving the city a 1 cent sales tax to expand basic services including police and fire.



Gardner Health

Salary
• Won 3-year contract with 3.75% COLA increase each year for those earning under 40k and 3.25% those above 40k
• Added new 6th step pay increase

Retirement
• Removed cap for retirement eligibility

Benefits
• Maintained current healthcare coverage and won a 2% decrease in member out-of-pocket costs



Redwood City

Salary
• 4% in 2008, 4% in 2009

Benefits
• City agreed to pick up future cost increases in health premium during length of contract



Kern County

Salary
• 4% in 2007, 4% in 2008, 4% in 2009
• Equity adjustments, some as high as 38.5%

Organizing
• Temps organized, 1162 workers

Kern County workers rallied for a fair contract.
Kern County workers rallied for a fair contract.


Fresno County

Organizing
• Temps organized, 388 workers



Kings County

Salary
• 5% raise first pay period in January, 2008 



Santa Clara County Homecare Workers

• Higher wages in the whole state at $12.10 per hour
• Health insurance, vision and dental for all members
• $1,000,000 fund for scholarship, respite care and emergency fund



San Mateo county Homecare workers

• $1 per hour wage increase
• More members covered by health, vision and dental insurance
• Beat back county trying to take away transit passes

Mariposa County

Organizing
• Won agency shop, 37 workers

Salary
• 4% raise each year of the contract
• AOD counselor stipend of $300 per month
• Master’s Degree stipend of $100 per month
• 3% equity increase for facilities maintenance workers

Benefits
• Significant decrease in amount employee has to pay for health insurance coverage

Union Security & Workers Rights
• Set up several first-ever Joint Labor/ Management Committees.

Miguel Camacho of Mariposa County
Miguel Camacho of Mariposa County gives their agency shop approval vote the thumbs up.


Kings Community Action Organization & Community Action Partnership of Madera County


• Beat back management’s attempt to decertify Union and won our first contract



City of Delano

Salary
• 9% raise over three years
• Equity adjustments
• Shift improvements

Benefits
• New paid holiday on Cesar Chavez Day
• Lowered health insurance premiums for dependents from $250 per month to $125 per month
• The City will pay required certification and testing cost. Those employees will also receive certification pay of $50 per month.
• Uniform benefit increased
• Health insurance premiums paid employee (not dependents) on an approved leave of absence without pay for up to 3 months.

City of Delano workers won the Cesar Chavez Day holiday, a pay raise and increased shift differential.
City of Delano workers won the Cesar Chavez Day holiday, a pay raise and increased shift differential.


Fresno Housing Authority

Organizing
• Members fought against management stall tactics for more than a year, filing two ULPs and won at November 2007 hearing, paving way for agency shop win in December 2007 for 103 workers.



Tulare County Superior Court

Organizing
• Won agency shop, 100 workers

Tulare Court workers
Tulare Court workers enjoy their agency shop victory.


Kern County Superior Court

Salary
• 4.5% raise in the first year paid retro to September 29, 2007. 3% raise effective September 27, 2008 and another 3% effective October 3, 2009.
• A $500 bonus paid in December of 2008 and 2009
Additional $10 per month bilingual pay

Benefits
• Court to pay 100% of employee-only health plan cost effective Oct. 1, 2008 (Currently 80%)
• Wellness incentive program starting July 1, ‘08.

Union Security & Worker Rights
• Employees held numerous unity actions including rallies, Purple Thursdays, Black Fridays and Sad Tuesdays
• Employees voted to strike for first time in chapter history

Kern County Superior Court workers
A group of Kern County Superior Court workers participating in a “Black Friday” unity action.


Starlight Adolescent Center

Salary
• 2% raise and 2% raise on member’s anniversary date of hire for both October 1 2007 and 2008.
• Certification and longevity pay raises
• Increase in shift differential

Benefits
• Employer will pay premium for employee only



Rebekah Children’s Services

Salary
• 3% raise retroactive to July 1, 2007
• Increases in bilingual pay and shift differential

Benefits
• Employer will pay premium for employee only



Community Solutions

Salary
• 3% raise retroactive to July 1, 2007
• All employees placed into a 5-step pay scale with each step 2% higher than the preceding
• Increases in shift and MHRS pay differential
• Increase in bilingual pay



Hope Services

Salary
• 4% raise January 1, 2008

Morgan Hill Unified School District

Salary
• 6.7% raise

Benefits
• Increased health care cap by $2200 per year



San Andreas Regional Center

Salary
• Wage increase, increased bilingual pay and addition of longevity pay

Union Security & Worker Rights
• Many actions including stickers, “purple up days,” petitions, and meeting with current board members
• Rally that was attended by 80% of members at that site.

San Andreas Regional Center rally  
A San Andreas Regional Center rally was attended by more than 80 percent of the members working at the site.



Santa Clara County Office of Education

Salary
• 4% raise with current cap increased by $500 per year
• Improved longevity pay
• Raises due to job re-classifications
 


Santa Clara County Superior Courts

Union Security & Worker Rights
• Successfully fought for establishment of 9/80 and 4/10 working hours



Cupertino Union School Districts

Salary
• 9% total compensation package in reopener
Union Security & Worker Rights
• Successfully fought off change to job descriptions without Union meet-and-confer.



Orchard School District

Salary
• 5% raise
• Additional raised due to job reclassifications
 


Housing Authority of Santa Clara County

Salary
• 3% raise

Benefits
• Gained additional money toward benefits so workers don’t have to pay full cost of health insurance increases



San Mateo County Courts

Salary
• Fought for and won increase to Real Time pay, doubling the amount workers were making



Campbell Union High School District

Salary
• 3.5% raise
• A job classification and wage study