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Santa Cruz County Strike Prep

Update: January 24, 2022 – 9:00 p.m.

BREAKING NEWS! Tentative Agreement Reached; Strike Averted!

Following all day mediation, and an overwhelming show of support to strike tomorrow by our members, WE HAVE REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT, and the strike tomorrow is officially averted/cancelled. The three-year agreement includes 3% wage increases each year, $1,250 in pandemic/hazard pay bonuses and more. Please share this message with your co-workers.

JOIN US FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TOMORROW TO LEARN MORE

If you can, join us for breakfast tomorrow starting at 7:30 a.m. at 1400 Emeline Ave. & 701 Ocean St., and lunch beginning at 12pm at both 701 Ocean St. & 1430 Freedom Blvd. Our co-workers from the bargaining team will be present to answer questions and to celebrate this historic victory! Please spread the word.

ATTEND OUR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING TOMORROW, JAN 24 @ 6PM TO LEARN MORE:

Click Here to Register

Update: January 24, 2022 – 6:00 p.m.

Tomorrow (Jan. 25) marks day one of our ULP (Unfair Labor Practice) strike activities that will take place only at two locations. ALL workers are to report to 1400 Emeline Ave., no later than 7:15 a.m. When you arrive, please sign-in at the indicated locations. Regardless of your regular worksite, ALL workers are to report to 1400 Emeline Ave. tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 25 no later than 7:15 a.m. Beginning at 7:45 a.m. ALL strike participants will march from 1400 Emeline Ave. to 701 Ocean St. to rally and set up strike picket lines at the Santa Cruz County Government Center Building outside of the Board of Supervisors’ chambers. SEIU 521 union staff, fellow SEIU 521 members, and Santa Cruz Police Department will provide safety and traffic control. 

If you have physical restrictions that may keep you from taking part in the march, please plan to meet marchers at 701 Ocean St. The strike line is a family friendly action and you are welcome to bring children.

After you read this complete strike alert, take the following steps:

  • Immediately send a round of personal texts and phone calls to your co-workers to confirm they will be joining you on the strike line.
  • Reach out to any advocate and community/client contacts with a message about why we are striking and how they can help. (ask them to email the Board: seiu521.org/careforsantacruz)
  • Prepare to meet up at 1400 Emeline Ave tomorrow no later than 7:15 a.m.

*Health Safety Notice: To ensure the health and safety of all participants including SEIU 521 members, union staff, allies, and community residents – we will enforce mask wearing guidance and social distancing at all times. There will also be “health stations” where participants may locate sanitizer, masks and other cleaning materials.

ITEMS TO BRING TO THE STRIKE LINE

Remind co-workers to have the following items in their car or are prepared to bring to the picket line: hat, light jacket, umbrella, sunblock.Also good to have: cell phone charger, and lawn chair. Our union staff will provide snacks, drinks and  individually packaged lunches.

NOTICE ABOUT REQUIRED LEGAL LINE PASS WORKER LIST:

Unless you have been notified by SEIU Local 521 that you have been assigned a “required line pass worker”, you should participate in the strike. Management might tell you that you are on an essential list to create confusion, but you are NOT unless you are on the SEIU 521 list of “required line pass workers”. [This is a skeleton crew that we are legally required to work on with management.]

STRIKE HOTLINE – 831-824-9263 

We have set up a strike hotline for any questions you may have pertaining to our ULP strike. If you reach the voicemail machine, leave a message and a fellow member or staff will return your call. Call the strike hotline here:  831-824-9263. You can also contact your strike captains by clicking here.

STRIKE SOLIDARITY ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT

Join your co-workers in updating your profile picture and sharing solidarity graphics on social media with friends and family. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

TAKING ACTION TODAY

Take two minutes today to send an email directly to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and urge them to settle our contract. Visit this following link: https://www.seiu521.org/endsantacruzcountycrisis then share it with friends and family.

THE LATEST ON NEGOTIATIONS

Your SEIU 521 Bargaining Team continues to inform management that we are ready and willing to return to the negotiations table to reach a fair and equitable union agreement and end our strike. To this point, the County continues to insist we accept their last, best, and final offer; an offer that was overwhelmingly rejected by 87%. At this moment, we are in mediation with the County. While we are eager to reach a deal which is fair for us and our community, we do not anticipate achieving resolution to our outstanding Unfair Labor Practices during today’s mediation session. The County refuses to address our proposals on wages and staffing, and they continue to commit Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs). We will continue to communicate the latest on any negotiations updates with our members both via email and text as they become available.

STRIKE LINE GUIDANCE + RULES

  • Follow health and safety guidance on mask wearing and social distancing. [Only remove your mask to eat or drink.]
  • Refer all media and reporters to a Strike Captain.
  • Picketers must report to the Strike Captain when they arrive and leave, and records will be kept of all picket duties performed.
  • Strikers who don’t have a specific picket assignment must report to the picket line at their work location one hour before their normal workday begins or to strike headquarters at 517 Mission St. in Santa Cruz
  • Strikers must cooperate with requests to change picket locations or shifts to maintain effective picket lines.
  • Worksites generally are picketed from 30 minutes before normal opening until one-half hour after normal closing. Twenty-four-hour facilities generally are picketed during normal business hours.
  • Picketers must wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and bring a jacket and a hat for protection from the sun or rain.
  • Strike captains must try to rotate rest periods so the picket line remains strong at all times. Picketers must not use restrooms and telephones in buildings owned or operated by the struck employer.
  • Don’t litter.
  • Don’t lounge on building steps. Keep the picket line moving.
  • Talk to people who cross the picket lines and try to convince them to support the strike without harassing them. Do not use profanity against workers crossing the picket line.
  • The Strike Captain must maintain records of all unusual incidents and communicate problems to SEIU 521 union staff on the line. If the Strike Captain is absent, another striker must assume the responsibility of handling problems. 
  • No drugs, alcohol, weapons, or violence whatsoever will be tolerated on picket lines.
  • Don’t argue with the police. They legally can ask strikers for their names, addresses, and identification. If a police officer makes any request beyond this, you have the right to consult with an attorney or SEIU 521 union staff member first. Don’t waive your constitutional rights without consulting with an attorney.
  • Strikers with outstanding traffic violations must pay them before picketing.
  • Don’t listen to rumors. If a rumor threatens to disrupt the picket line, the Strike Captain must call the strike hotline: 831-824-9263
  • Don’t abandon the picket line.
  • Someone will be on duty at all times to deal with any emergencies.
  • Don’t talk with strangers on the picket line before checking with the Strike Captain.

Other questions?

Consult our strike manual or your strike captain list with any other questions. 

We look forward to joining you on the strike picket line to win for the community we serve, our fellow co-workers, and our families! 

*Please note that a copy of this email will be sent to you via text message, feel free to share with others.

In solidarity, 

Your SEIU 521 Santa Cruz County Bargaining and Strike Captain Team

Posted: January 21, 2022

Important Strike Info Included, Read Complete Update

We’re in this to win it! The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and management continue to prove they do not respect essential front-line county workers, our sacrifices, and the contributions we made before, during and after the pandemic.  If they did, we would have a fair and equitable union contract that invests in essential services by now. Instead of bargaining in good faith, they continue to break the law. A well-executed strike will show them that they need to have respect for us and the community  we serve – now and for years to come.

ALERT NOTICE ON WHERE OUR STRIKE BEGINS

Your role in our Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike is key. And you and your co-workers must remain aware and responsive to our communications. Members  will receive a text at approximately 6 P.M. the night before the strike date (Tuesday, Jan. 25). All workers must plan to report to the picket line at the location indicated in our text message and email, the next day, 30 minutes before their regular work start time.  Assume you are reporting to your assigned worksite IN PERSON unless we specifically instruct you otherwise. 

*Health Safety Notice: To ensure the health and safety of all participants including SEIU 521 members, union staff, allies, and community residents – we will enforce mask wearing guidance and social distancing at all times. There will also be “health stations” where participants may locate sanitizer, masks and other cleaning materials.

ITEMS TO BRING TO THE STRIKE LINE

Remind co-workers to have the following items in their car or are prepared to bring to the picket line: hat, light jacket, umbrella, sunblock.Also good to have: cell phone charger, and lawn chair. Our union staff will provide snacks, drinks and  individually packaged lunches.

After you receive the message that the strike is on:

  • Immediately send a round of personal texts and phone calls to your co-workers to confirm they will be joining you on the strike line.
  • Reach out to any advocate/community/client contacts with a message about why we are striking and how they can help.
  • Prepare to meet up at the strike day one location 30 minutes before your regular work start time.

NOTICE ABOUT REQUIRED LEGAL LINE PASS WORKER LIST:

Unless you have been notified by SEIU Local 521 that you have been assigned a “required essential line pass worker”, you should participate in the strike. Management might tell you that you are on an essential list to create confusion, but you are not unless you are on the SEIU 521 list of “required line pass workers”. [a skeleton crew that we are legally required to work on with management.]

STRIKE HOTLINE TO BE LIVE STARTING MONDAY, JAN 24: 831-824-9263 

We have set up a strike hotline for any questions you may have pertaining to the strike. If you reach the voicemail machine, leave a message and a fellow member or staff will return your call. Call the strike hotline here:  831-824-9263. The line will go live starting on Monday, January 24. You can also contact your strike captains by CLICKING HERE.

STRIKE SOLIDARITY ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT

We encourage you to visit and share our strike solidarity social media graphics with friends, neighbors, family members, and allies. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS.

In it you will find: 

  • Facebook profile picture image to download/post
  • How to set-up your out-of-the office message for our strike days 
  • Visuals to share on your social media accounts
  • Link to our email actions directed at the Board of Supervisors to settle the strike: https://seiu521.org/careforsantacruz (you can start sending emails as soon as today)
  • Remember to tag us in all posts @seiu521 using the hashtags: #ProtectSantaCruzCounty #StrikeReady #CareForSantaCruz

THE LATEST ON NEGOTIATIONS

Your SEIU 521 Bargaining Team continues to inform management that we are ready and willing to return to the negotiations table to reach a fair agreement and end the strike. To this point, the county continues to insist we accept their last, best, and final offer, an offer that was overwhelmingly rejected by 87%. On Monday, we are scheduled to enter mediation with the County. While we are eager to reach a deal which is fair for us and our community, we do not anticipate achieving resolution to our outstanding unfair labor practices at Monday’s mediation session. The county refuses to address our proposals on wages and staffing, and they continue to commit unfair labor practices (ULPs). We will continue to communicate the latest on any negotiations updates with our members both via email and text as they become available. 

STRIKE LINE GUIDANCE + RULES

  • Follow health and safety guidance on mask wearing and social distancing. [Only remove your mask to eat or drink.]
  • Refer all media and reporters to a Strike Captain.
  • Picketers must report to the Strike Captain when they arrive and leave, and records will be kept of all picket duties performed.
  • Strikers who don’t have a specific picket assignment must report to the picket line at their work location one hour before their normal workday begins or to strike headquarters at 517 Mission St. in Santa Cruz
  • Strikers must cooperate with requests to change picket locations or shifts to maintain effective picket lines.
  • Worksites generally are picketed from 30 minutes before normal opening until one-half hour after normal closing. Twenty-four-hour facilities generally are picketed during normal business hours.
  • Picketers must wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and bring a jacket and a hat for protection from the sun or rain.
  • Strike captains must try to rotate rest periods so the picket line remains strong at all times. Picketers must not use restrooms and telephones in buildings owned or operated by the struck employer.
  • Don’t litter.
  • Don’t lounge on building steps. Keep the picket line moving.
  • Talk to people who cross the picket lines and try to convince them to support the strike without harassing them. Do not use profanity against workers crossing the picket line.
  • The Strike Captain must maintain records of all unusual incidents and communicate problems to SEIU 521 union staff on the line. If the Strike Captain is absent, another striker must assume the responsibility of handling problems. 
  • No drugs, alcohol, weapons, or violence whatsoever will be tolerated on picket lines.
  • Don’t argue with the police. They legally can ask strikers for their names, addresses, and identification. If a police officer makes any request beyond this, you have the right to consult with an attorney or SEIU 521 union staff member first. Don’t waive your constitutional rights without consulting with an attorney.
  • Strikers with outstanding traffic violations must pay them before picketing.
  • Don’t listen to rumors. If a rumor threatens to disrupt the picket line, the Strike Captain must call the strike hotline: 831-824-9263
  • Don’t abandon the picket line.
  • Someone will be on duty at all times to deal with any emergencies.
  • Don’t talk with strangers on the picket line before checking with the Strike Captain.

Other questions?

Consult our strike manual or your strike captain list with any other questions. 

We look forward to joining you on the strike picket line to win for the community we serve, our fellow co-workers, and our families!