GILROY, Calif. — Dozens of Rebekah Children’s Services (RCS) represented by SEIU Local 521 held an informational picket on July 15, 2026, at 290 I. O. O. F. Ave, Gilroy, CA 95020 12pm noon, to call on RCS management and its Board to end mass layoffs of frontline union positions, protect critical services for vulnerable communities and return to the bargaining table.
Rebekah Children’s Services serves low-income children and communities living with fear, instability, and trauma, including mixed-status families threatened by the Trump Administration’s federal immigration policies. At a time of increased instability from the federal government, RCS is reducing the frontline workforce communities rely upon. RCS will lay off a minimum of 10% of union positions, weakening care, and refusing to meaningfully negotiate with SEIU Local 521 workers.
“Over the last five years, Rebekah Children’s Services has reported surpluses of $5 million per year for the last five years, while holding an additional $13 million in cash on hand. Management must reverse these illegal layoffs and return to the bargaining table to use its resources to protect the communities it claims to serve.” – Marina Garduno, SEIU 521 Bargaining Team Member and Rebekah Children’s Services Family Coach II
Members of the public can send a message to the RCS Board here: https://seiu521.click/rcsboard
Photos of the action: https://www.facebook.com/SEIU521/posts/pfbid02bHCxwGim1GeXf73aPnsh4Bsz4b4ndhVgWhm17kcjhick4pv9Fpz5yDK5jGN37CrHl
Video of the action: https://www.instagram.com/p/Da1PeQbihrF/
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Service Employees International Union, Local 521 represents 72,000 public- and nonprofit, private-sector workers in California’s Bay Area, the Central Coast, and in the Central Valley. Under a Community First vision, we are committed to making sure the needs of our community, and the vital services we provide our community, come first. We believe our communities thrive when residents, leaders and workers recognize that we are all in this together when it comes to our safety, health, and well-being.
