SAN FERNANDO–Eighty-five part-time city of San Fernando employees–who run the city’s recreation programs and summer day camps, provide after-school programs at elementary schools, and work as crossing guards at elementary schools–received official union recognition from the city of San Fernando on Sept. 5, 2008.
Part-time employees, who play an important role in the city of San Fernando by promoting healthy lifestyles and connecting families and neighbors, are now one step closer to having a contract that guarantees wages, benefits and working conditions.
Overwhelming support for forming a union
Following in the footsteps of the full-time employees of the city of San Fernando who are already represented by SEIU 721, 80 percent of the city’s part-time employees signed cards showing support for forming a union earlier this summer.
“By forming a union, part-time employees have the ability to work together with the city during tight budget times to maintain the high level of quality services and staff in the city,” said Sylvia Tolentino, a senior counselor at Gridley Elementary’s After School Program.
“It’s our opportunity to make a change”
Having already enlisted the support of San Fernando Mayor Julie Ruelas and members of the city council, the city’s part-time employees will soon begin the process of electing their bargaining team, filling out bargaining surveys and finding ways to work with the city in the middle of the budget crisis.
“We all work with the community and for the community, in some way or another,” said Maribel Perez, a program specialist with the city’s Department of Recreation and Community Services. “We saw this as an opportunity to actually have a voice at work. It’s our opportunity to make a change.”
If you would like to form a union in your workplace, or you know someone who wants one in theirs, call 213-368-8660 and ask to be connected to the Organizing Department.