SEIU 721 members in Riverside County are taking action immediately by hosting a summit Jan. 30 to discuss solutions to the financial challenges we face.

 A Jan. 13 article in the Press-Enterprise highlighted another difficult economic year as Board of Supervisors consider layoffs and early retirement offers to hundreds of employees to close a $71 million budget gap. Read the full story here.

In the article, SEIU 721 bargaining team member Kevin Luke addressed the cuts to services.

"That should be a last resort," said Kevin Luke, a supervisor in the county's Child Protective Services office and a member of the Service Employees International Union.

Luke, a member of the union's negotiating team with the county, said other savings should be considered first.

"What it will do is impact services to the community," he said of job cuts.

The solution, members say, is a multi-faceted approach of combining early retirements, implementing real efficiencies projected to save millions and working on bond reform.

Workers will unite on Saturday, Jan. 30, in Moreno Valley to discuss solutions to the most difficult challenges facing our community. More than 40 political leaders will attend and engage members on issues such as bond reform and working cooperatively on insuring funds meant for counties and cities that are not raided by the state.

RSVP for the Jan. 30 Vision Conference in Moreno Valley.