County of Riverside Temporary Workers Are Ready to Join SEIU
Temporary workers made it clear to the County of Riverside's Human Resources Department that they want to have a voice at work.Watch a videoRIVERSIDE— Temporary workers gathered on Tuesday, March 11, to make it clear to the County of Riverside’s Human Resources Department that they want to form a union with SEIU 721.
On the steps of the County Administration Center in downtown Riverside, a group of workers employed by the County of Riverside’s Temporary Assignment Program announced their decision to file a petition to be represented by SEIU 721.
Billie Crawford
Temp Worker
“As TAP employees, we want to have a voice in addressing some of the issues within the TAP program," said Billie Renee Crawford, an office assistant hired through the Temporary Assignment Program. “That’s why we’re joining together with SEIU 721 – to have a voice at work.”
Problems persist in the County’s Temporary Assignment Program (TAP), and quality services are still threatened, four years after a 2003 grand jury investigation that highlighted serious problems:
- A 500% funding increase from 1998 to 2003-04 budget, instead of a 20% increase projected in 1998-99.
- Employee turnover of 42%.
- Turnover cost calculated at least $11.5 million.
- $600,000 in unemployment compensation costs.
- Incidents of nepotism in hiring, with supporting records not made readily available to the grand jury.
- Fear of retaliation among TAP employees for talking to the grand jury.
Annelle Grajeda
SEIU 721 President
“Four years after a grand jury investigation, the County continues to let its in-house temp agency operate unchecked,” said SEIU 721 President Annelle Grajeda. "There is a legitimate need for temporary work in Riverside County, but County management has lost control of the program, and it is no longer meeting its original goals."
Temporary Workers Have SupportWith a crowd of 60 people made up of temporary workers, SEIU members, and community groups, with television cameras and tape recorders rolling, temporary workers presented nearly 900 union authorization cards to Ron Komers, head of the County’s Human Resources Department.
The community groups and leaders included:
- Congressional candidate Dr. Rita Ramirez
- Paul Rasso, Moreno Valley Democratic Club
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
- Social Environmental Political Action Group
- Riverside Democratic Central Committee
- Latino Union
- Humanitarian's Aide
- Katipunan Filipino Student Organization
- Sigma Phi Epsilon
- Latinic Societas Unitas
- MEChA
- Student Homeless Aid Relief Project
- Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (C.L.U.E)
- Omega Zeta Chi
“The union is in my blood and I support the temporary workers’ right to form a union,” said Paul Rasso of the Moreno Valley Democratic Club. “Whenever they call me, I’ll be here to support them.”
After the press conference, a delegation of temporary workers and supporters met with the Director of Human Resources at the door of the County Administration Center to deliver the authorization cards and documents to file for union recognition.