Fresno County Members Are Involved

JUNE 2015 NEWSLETTER

Service Employees International Union, CTW-CLC

5228 East Pine Avenue, Fresno CA 93727 ���� (559) 447-2560 ���� FAX (559) 261-9308 ���� www.seiu521.org Fresno County Newsletter June 2015; County Team:lem opeiu29afl-cio 2015© SEIU521/CTW-CLC

Chapter President’s Message by Laura Basua

Hello Brothers and Sisters:

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has been suppor�ng our bargaining efforts.

Whether you’ve been a#ending CAT mee�ngs, displaying placards, promo�ng your bargaining

team by wearing purple, par�cipa�ng in unity breaks or a#ending the Board of Supervisors

mee�ng, your support is everywhere!

Together we are an extremely strong UNION and it has made a difference!

Last month, the newly elected JJC members were sworn into office making our leadership team complete. We are

a very cohesive member board with one common goal – suppor�ng our members and the community we serve.

The team is working diligently to move forward a1er the PERB decision from the Administra�ve Judge.

I hope you will a#end the General/Execu�ve Board mee�ng on June 9. You will have an opportunity to meet our

bargaining team and ask ques�ons.

Remember that our chapter leadership is only as strong as the membership behind it; we can’t do it without you!

Laura Basua

Fresno County At Large President

Unit 4 Job Specialist lll

CONTRACT UPDATE—June 3, 2015

After our action yesterday, the County agreed to return to the table and continue settlement discussions. The Bargaining Team is scheduled to meet with the County on Wednesday, June 10. We are hopeful that we will be able to reach a mutual agreement. We're continuing to rally at the board meetings and in front of the Hall of Records to show our unity and support for a new contract. After years of labor unrest, there is an opportunity to press “reset” for Fresno County, which has been slipping in basic quality-of-life measures in recent years.

This board has indicated a willingness to have a more harmonious relationship and end the labor unrest of the last four years. We are asking the County to come back to the table and have a real conversation about what it will take to reach an agreement. The impact of the cuts made by the County over the last four years have been tremendous to working people, our families, and the communities we call home.

We believe that this Board can rise to the occasion and will support a contract that invests in Fresno County and delivers the quality public services that Fresno County residents deserve.

Remember to support your bargaining team

and wear PURPLE on Wednesday, June 10

We are continuing our commitment to work with the County to reach a mutual agreement that recognizes the need to have a highly skilled workforce, improved day-to-

day work efficiencies, and adequate economic compensation.

– Riley Talford, Supervising Juvenile Corrections Officer

So that we may have an

accurate count, please

R.S.V.P. by calling:

(559) 447-2579

Come to our Executive Board and General Membership Meeting

Tuesday, June 9 at 6 p.m. Dinner served at 5:30 p.m.

SEIU Local 521—Unity Hall, 5228 E. Pine Ave., Fresno, CA 93727

Don’t be just a fee payer!Don’t be just a fee payer!Don’t be just a fee payer! The advantage of being a union member

Unions are legally obligated to represent everyone within the bargaining unit, whether or not they are union members. For this reason, those who choose not to become union members have to pay a “service

fee” — their fair share of the cost of bargaining and administering the contract that protects everyone.

Service fee payers pay a fee for representation, but don’t have important rights and benefits. More important, employers know which worksites have strong union members and which don’t -

allowing management to pick on areas that seem weak.

Members: ♦ You decide what we seek in negotiations and what an acceptable contract is. ♦ You decide when an offered raise is enough. ♦ You decide if we go on strike. ♦ You decide who our union leadership will be. ♦ You decide what our bylaws and dues structure will be. ♦ You can serve as a steward, a committee member, and hold a union office. ♦ You are eligible for college scholarships for you or your family. ♦ You qualify for a wide array of discounts and benefits, including insurance and legal advice.

Do you want better wages, benefits, and working conditions? Want to have a voice in decisions? Become a union member today!

For more information on the benefits of membership, go to www.seiu521.org/benefits

and call your local union office at: (559) 447-2560.

Fee payers: � NO VOICE, NO VOTE � FEWER RIGHTS, FEWER BENEFITS � You have to accept what voting members want in negotiations. � You must accept the leaders that are elected to represent you. � You are unable to win a better contract. � You self-alienate, setting up a two-tier system where there is

division between members and non-members in the workplace.

In work sites where everyone is a union member, we are more effective because management knows that workers are united.

2015 FRESNO STEWARD TRAININGS

TRAINING WORKSHOPTRAINING WORKSHOPTRAINING WORKSHOPTRAINING WORKSHOP SEIU Local 521 OfficeSEIU Local 521 OfficeSEIU Local 521 OfficeSEIU Local 521 Office 5228 E. Pine Ave.,

Fresno

RSVP on our website,

www.seiu521.org Click on Member

Resources, Steward Workshops then

complete and submit the online form.

You can also sign up

by calling the Local 521 office at (559) 447-2579

MODULE 1MODULE 1MODULE 1MODULE 1—Role of the Steward MODULE 2MODULE 2MODULE 2MODULE 2—Steward as Voice of Union MODULE 3MODULE 3MODULE 3MODULE 3—Investigating Workplace Problems

COMBINED TRAININGCOMBINED TRAININGCOMBINED TRAININGCOMBINED TRAINING Saturday, Oct. 10 9 a.m.—3 p.m.

MODULE 4MODULE 4MODULE 4MODULE 4—Steward & Discipline MODULE 5MODULE 5MODULE 5MODULE 5—Meeting with the Boss

COMBINED TRAININGCOMBINED TRAININGCOMBINED TRAININGCOMBINED TRAINING Saturday, Aug. 22 Saturday, Nov. 7 9 a.m.—3 p.m.

• Trainings begin at 9:00 a.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided. • A minimum number of participants must be signed up a week in advance, or

training will be cancelled.

Steward CouncilSteward CouncilSteward CouncilSteward Council Continuing Education for Shop Stewards

(Updating information received from Modules 1-5)

Thursday, June 25 at 6 p.m.Thursday, June 25 at 6 p.m.Thursday, June 25 at 6 p.m.Thursday, June 25 at 6 p.m. Dinner served at 5:30 p.m.Dinner served at 5:30 p.m.Dinner served at 5:30 p.m.Dinner served at 5:30 p.m.

SEIU Local 521—Unity Hall, 5228 E. Pine Ave., Fresno

Topics of Discussion:

Open Case Review

Working with CED

Meetings are held the 4th Thursday of every monthMeetings are held the 4th Thursday of every monthMeetings are held the 4th Thursday of every monthMeetings are held the 4th Thursday of every month

So that we may have an accurate count, please R.S.V.P. by calling: (559) 447-2579

Opportunities to Opportunities to Opportunities to Opportunities to network with network with network with network with other Shop other Shop other Shop other Shop StewardsStewardsStewardsStewards