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The Purple Buzz – March 8, 2012


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Quick Quiz:

The Screen Actors Guild, one of the world’s most star-studded unions, represents actors in television and film.
Which of the following stars was never president of SAG?
A. Ronald Reagan
B. Sally Field
C. Ed Asner
D. Charlton Heston
Scroll down to see answer.

Retirement security for California workers

LA Times got it wrong. 521 member rebuts bad reporting on pensions:
https://www.seiu521.org/la-times-spiking-story-gets-it-very-wrong
Come to the next 521 Pension Committee meeting
Thursday, March 22, 6-8 p.m.
Location: SEIU 521 offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, Salinas, San Jose and Visalia via video conference
Please RSVP to Hoan.Pham@seiu521.org
To keep up on retirement issues, follow the 521 Pension blog at:
https://www.seiu521.org/category/pension

SEIU members winning for our courts

Take Back Our CourtsSEIU members up and down the state have fought to keep courthouses open, while the Administrative Office of the Courts preferred to divert hundreds of millions of dollars to a computer system.
Now, supporters of the system are walking back their support.
To keep up on courts issues, follow the Take Back Our Courts blog at:
https://www.seiu521.org/category/take-back-our-courts

“Never let it be said workers don’t have any power. We focused on preserving court services for the public and fighting for jobs versus management bureaucracy. And clearly, we are making a difference.”
— Joanne Hutton
Courtroom Clerk, Kern County

SEIU International Convention seeks 521 delegates

Are you interested in representing SEIU 521 at the 25th International Convention?
Our local will be holding elections to send delegates to Denver, Colorado over the Memorial Day weekend.
The Executive Board has approved 48 delegate slots, so start collecting signatures if you are interested in helping develop our union at the highest level. The nomination period is March 9 – 26 with voting from April 2 – 18.
Read more:
https://www.seiu521.org/international-convention

Eligibility Worker Industry Council takes off!

Eligibility workers defending CalWORKSExecutive board leaders of SEIU Local 521 have officially recognized the Eligibility Worker Industry Council, which makes the council eligible to have an Executive Board delegate and an alternate at the 521 Executive Board level.
Last week, eligibility workers were at the state Capitol to provide key testimonials in defense of CalWORKS for families in need, and we made a real difference!
Read more:
https://www.seiu521.org/ew
Join the Eligibility Worker Industry Council
Monday, March 19, at 5:45 p.m. at your local SEIU 521 office.
The council is open to all account clerks, job specialists, office assistants, eligibility workers and all the members that help provide these essential services to the public who needs them.
Call your local office to RSVP. Contact info: https://www.seiu521.org/contact

Kern County Chapter still fighting for fair contract

Kern County members are voting on how long to strike if the Board of Supervisors imposes an all-takeaways contract. Pressure from 521 members led the BOS to hold off on implementing, but the county is still demanding medical premium givebacks that would cut up to 20 percent out of workers’ paychecks.

View the remaining vote schedule on the Kern County chapter page:
https://www.seiu521.org/cokern
 

San Benito County workers to Board: Stop expensive cash-outs

San Benito County workers at BOSAbout 100 San Benito County workers filled the Board of Supervisors special budget meeting Feb. 28, pledging ongoing willingness to help balance the budget and offering potential solutions, such as capping expensive vacation cash-outs.
Read more:
https://www.seiu521.org/sbc-budget-solutions

Stay informed!

Visit your chapter web page frequently: https://www.seiu521.org
Click on the first tab “Go to My Workplace,” click on your region, then your chapter.
Sign up for text messages: https://www.seiu521.org/text
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/seiu521
Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/seiu521
Forward this email to your co-workers and encourage them to sign up for email updates: http://521.seiu.org/signup

Quick Quiz:

The Screen Actors Guild, one of the world’s most star-studded unions, represents actors in television and film.
Which of the following stars was never president of SAG?
A. Ronald Reagan
B. Sally Field
C. Ed Asner
D. Charlton Heston
The answer is B) Sally Field.
The actress starred in the 1979 union drama “Norma Rae,” in which she organized a textile mill, but she was never president of SAG.