Surveys Reveal Furloughs are a Top Issue  
After reviewing hundreds of bargaining surveys, members identified eliminating furloughs as a primary focus this year as well as fighting for a fairness agreement and protecting retirement security.

"Furloughs haven't been easy for anyone. They've created hardships for families, while resulting in major time restraints to deal with high levels of service needs. This issue needs to be looked at closely in bargaining." -Tom Finan, Agriculture standards investigator IV, Bargaining Team Member 

 Look at Last Year
Last year, SEIU members warned the County against the detrimental use of furloughs and its hurtful impact on services. 

But the County implemented the contract, meaning it forced horrible terms of conditions of employment such as unlimited furloughs, lay-offs by merit, no overtime rights and no job security on SEIU members.

Members fought to remove these conditions and succeeded on most of them. But after nearly a year, it is clear that furloughs do not work. Furloughs have cost more to the County in certain departments such as the Riverside County Regional Medical Center and other 24 hour-operations.

Looking Forward
This year, your bargaining team is offering solutions to stop mandatory furloughs, while generating savings for the County.  They include:  

1.  Implement cost savings offered by members
2.  Offer voluntary furloughs
3.  Advocate for stimulus money
4.  Add two extra bottom steps for new hires
5.  Early retirement 

SEIU 721 Events
April 5, 2010
Bargaining Meeting
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Flood Control Building
1995 Market Street, Riverside, CA  92501
Bargaining Room 1/ H.R. Mgmt Caucus Room E-F

April 7, 2010
Contract Action Team Meeting/ Town Hall for Riverside County Auditor Controller   
6 p.m.-8 p.m.
SEIU 721 Riverside Office 

The SEIU 721 bargaining team is jumping into negotiations with Riverside County as the one-year contract that members ratified in late August 2009 will expire June 30, 2010.

"Last year, was a challenging year to bargain, especially after the County forced furloughs on SEIU 721 members. This year, we're beginning bargaining early, so we can focus on gaining the best contract to support public services, our families and our community." 
Eric Mummert, Riverside County Process Analyst II and SEIU 721 Bargaining Team Member

 

Mark Your Calendar: SEIU 721 Bargaining Dates Set

Negotiation sessions between the SEIU 721 bargaining team and Riverside County management are open to all members.

April 5, 2010
Bargaining Meeting
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Flood Control Building
1995 Market Street, Riverside, CA  92501
Bargaining Room 1/ H.R. Mgmt Caucus Room E-F

April 7, 2010
Contract Action Team Meeting / Town Hall for Riverside County Auditor Controller 
6 p.m.-8 p.m.
SEIU 721 Riverside Office 
4336 Market Street, Riverside, CA 92501

Last year, SEIU Local 721 brought a lawsuit against Riverside County alleging the County unlawfully failed to pay overtime to thousands of employees by misclassifying them as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

• The County started paying overtime again on August 1, 2009 as a result of contract negotiations with Local 721. However, damages may be awarded by the court to employees who were not paid overtime between July 1, 2008 and August 1, 2009 and who were misclassified as exempt.

• Pursuant to a court order, if you were not paid overtime for working more than 40 hours in a workweek between July 1, 2008 and August 1, 2009, and you wish to participate in this lawsuit,
you must complete an "opt-in" packet.

• You must actively participate in this lawsuit if you want SEIU to litigate in federal court that you should have been paid overtime.

• You cannot participate in this lawsuit if you do not complete an opt-in packet before April 12, 2010.

• Those that previously responded to surveys or filled out opt-in forms, must still complete the "opt-in" packet as new information is required by the attorneys.

Opt-In Checklist  
Send an email requesting an opt-in packet to agallegos@unioncounsel.net.

In the subject line of the email write: FLSA OPT IN REQUEST

Include the following information:
____ Specify Full Name
____ Specific Classification
____ Worksite Location
____ Personal (non-County) e-mail
____ Home or Cell Phone Number
____ Estimate of the number of overtime hours you were underpaid between July 2008 to August 2009.

Once your email is received, you will be emailed a packet of information to complete.
Questions: Contact SEIU 721 Worksite Organizer Roman Martinez at (213) 494-7084.

The SEIU 721 bargaining team is jumping into negotiations with Riverside County as
the one-year contract that members ratified in late August 2009 will expire June 30, 2010.

Negotiation sessions between the SEIU 721 bargaining team and Riverside County management are open to all members. The March bargaining dates are listed below:

• Thursday, March 25, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Wednesday, March 31, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bargaining location: Riverside County Oasis Building, 7898 Mission
Grove Parkway South, Riverside, CA 92508

Did you know we are about to enter bargaining this spring? The one-year contract that we ratified in late August 2009 will expire June 30, 2010.

Online bargaining surveys are available here.

The survey information will be tabulated and will help guide bargaining this year. Take 20 minutes to fill out the survey asking what bargaining priorities are most important to you.

"As a public service worker, a bargaining team member, a Riverside County resident, a wife and a mother, I'm committed to making this County a better place to live and work. But it starts with you and me filling out a bargaining survey."
Wendy Thomas, Riverside County Communications Supervisor 

 

Click here for the Riverside County Bargaining Survey.   

At a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, March 2, members in the Desert will talk face-to-face with candidates running for Riverside County Supervisor in District 4. This is a chance to meet and select a candidate to endorse that will stand up for public services.

Supervisor John Benoit and Gary Jeandron will attend the March 2 Town Hall. The Fourth District is the largest in Riverside County, spanning Palm Springs to Blythe.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Rancho Las Palmas Resort
41-000 Bob Hope Drive
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

RSVP online by clicking here.

About the Candidates

John Benoit
John J. Benoit was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Nov. 4, 2009 to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, replacing the late Roy Wilson in representing the County's 4th District. Benoit was previously elected to the California State Assembly and the State Senate.

Gary Jeandron
For more than three decades, Gary Jeandron served professionally with the Palm Springs Police Department. He started as a Records Clerk and became Chief of Police 29 years later in 2002. He retired from the Department in 2008. He also served on the Palm Springs Unified School Board of Directors.

Reserve your spot for the town hall by clicking here.

Inland Region members say uniting resources is the answer at Vision Conference.

Inland Region members and elected officials came together Jan. 30 to SEIU Local 721's first annual Vision Conference to address the most difficult issue impacting our community - the economy. The message is clear.

Solutions to drive our economy forward involve a multi-faceted approach, requiring the united resources of cities and counties across the Inland Region, along with the membership support of thousands of SEIU 721 members. 

To view a picture slideshow, click here.  

"We need everybody at the table including unions," said Hemet Councilmember C. Robin Reeser Lowe, who is also the League of California Cities president. 

More than 50 elected officials and dignitaries from all corners of the Inland Region joined about 350 SEIU members at the Moreno Valley Conference Center. Elected officials included Riverside County Board Supervisors Marion Ashley, John Tavaglione, Jeff Stone and John Benoit.

Other attendees included Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner Stanley Sniff , Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco, Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge and economist John Husing, who specializes in Southern California's Inland Region economy.   

One of the greatest obstacles local governments face is keeping the state from raiding local government funds that are necessary to provide critical services to our most vulnerable communities, elected officials said. 

To send a strong message to Sacramento and Washington, D.C., members and elected officials proposed initiatives to form a delegation with the League of California Cities, local governments, school boards and members of SEIU Local 721. 

SEIU 721 members are committed to pursuing the solutions discussed at the conference as a way to reenergize the Inland economy and ensure services to the community.

Despite the challenges ahead, SEIU 721 member Wendy Thomas said she is hopeful that the event will lead to positive benefits for the Inland Region.     

"We're coming together as one to find solutions during these difficult times," she said. "This is a critical moment, as we work hard to serve the millions of residents living in the Inland Region."

 

 

 

On Jan. 30, SEIU 721 members will gather with elected officials from across the Inland Region to tackle some of the greatest challenges facing our community. Here is a preview of the panels and speakers. Click here to reserve your spot. Spots are filling up fast!

January 30, 2010
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Moreno Valley Conference and Recreation Center
14075 Frederick St., Moreno Valley 92552
RSVP here!
 

Panel: The Economy and Solutions
Amid financial peril, great opportunities exist to aid the Inland area's ailing economy by supporting fiscal responsibility, efficiencies and job creation, which will ensure stability and growth in a region devastated by foreclosures and job unemployment. Key solutions to helping the economy include implementing efficiencies in local government, building a business-based infrastructure and engaging in bond reform. Panelists will discuss the current state of the economy and strategies to overcome the current economic crisis.

Scheduled Panelists:
• Dr. John Husing, economist specializing in Southern California's Inland Economy.  
• Chuck Washington, City of Temecula councilman.
• Catherine Eide Nelson, SEIU Local 721 executive board member and public service worker.
• Rose Mayes, executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County.
 
Panel: Politics in the Crisis
In a region with many divergent interests, the economic crisis is a moment to unite in a common goal to help our community. Establishing partnerships with elected leaders, business groups, outreach organizations and labor is a critical component to creating opportunity out of crisis. The current political challenges require a reinvented collaborative effort based in transparency and integrity. Panelists will discuss ways to partner politically in order to benefit the public.

Scheduled panelists:
• John Tavaglione, Riverside County Board of Supervisor for District 2 and member of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Executive Committee.
• C. Robin Reeser Lowe, City of Hemet councilwoman and president of the California League of Cities. 
• Steve Robbins, general manager-chief engineer of the Coachella Valley Water District.
• Frank Corral, City of Riverside public service worker. 

Panel: Uniting to Protect Our Families
The protection of our social safety net faces great challenges to our most vulnerable populations from children to seniors. Social workers, community leaders and outreach experts agree that the delivery of services under strained economic resources makes it more difficult to deliver services to our neediest communities. Panelists will discuss ways to unite resources to protect our families, children and seniors during this difficult time.

Scheduled panelists:
• Dom Betro, president/CEO of Family Service Association of Riverside and former City of Riverside councilman.
• Kevin Luke, Riverside County Children's Social Worker.
• Harry Freedman, executive director of First 5 Riverside.
• Fourth panelist to be determined.

The 2010 Vision Conference on Jan. 30 is a gathering of members like you: strong, innovative and committed to a brighter future.

"My vision is for SEIU to be a beacon for other unions and their members to look toward. Our determination to seek out equality and fairness for our members will set the example that stimulates other unions to ride our coattails."
Mark Grays, ICU Registered Nurse, Riverside County Regional Medical Center

"My vision is to have a union that better communicates with members, employers and the community through member involvement, which will develop a more productive, stronger and positive union presence in the workplace and community."
Tim Burke, Lead Water Distribution Operator, City of Hemet

A Look Back at 2009 

As we enter a new year, let's not forget about the victories we achieved last year. Here's a look back at the Inland Area's best moments of 2009. Let the countdown begin: