📽️▶️Download the Video Recording of the Presser
Kern County Child Welfare Workers Shared Feelings and Remarks of Validation During Press Event. Thousands of Kern County Workers are Expected to Strike for Two Days Over the Staffing Crisis and Declining Public Services if No Agreement is Reached.
Bakersfield, CA – On Thursday, May 8, frontline Kern County Social Workers in Child Protective Services (CPS) held a Fix Kern press conference outside the Department of Human Services building on California Avenue.
Workers responded to the April 22 Grand Jury Report, which confirms what they’ve been saying for nearly a year: uncompetitive wages, dangerous caseloads, and chronic understaffing put Kern County families at risk.
Despite repeated warnings during public comment at board meetings or the negotiation table, the Kern County Board of Supervisors failed to act, even while withholding hundreds of millions of earmarked funds from the State of California intended to strengthen vital public services like CPS. A recent white paper analysis confirms that these resources remain untapped as the County continues to shortchange taxpayers by short-staffing essential departments.
On Tuesday, May 13, Kern County Social workers will unite with workers from Public Health, Public Works, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, among other departments, at the County Board of Supervisors to hold an informational picket before the 9:00 am meeting and deliver public comment in the chamber.
They will urge the Board to stop delaying and provide a contract that helps them to protect children, support families in crisis, and restore confidence in local government.
If the County’s next offer fails to adequately address illegal bargaining tactics and the thinning of public services, SEIU 521’s bargaining team is prepared to mobilize thousands to vote to reject offer and support of a two-day strike.
Remarks made at the presser by:
- Alicia Aleman, Kern County Social Worker, SEIU 521 Kern County Chapter President.
- Debra Clinger, Kern County CPS Emergency Response Social Worker, SEIU 521 Member
- Lea Hartdige, Kern County CPS Court Intake Social Worker, SEIU 521 Member. Remarks were delivered by Debra Clinger.
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Service Employees International Union, Local 521 represents 73,000 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.
