UPDATE: Ballots have reached member’s homes this week. Please follow the instructions included to ensure your ballot is valid. Ballots must be received at the Riverside SEIU 721 office by Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Counting will take place on March 1.
Click here to download a pdf showing the differences in the LBFO and the Tentative Agreement.
Over the last year, SEIU 721 Riverside County workers made history. We attended numerous bargaining sessions, participated in public rallies, shared our personal stories of hardship with the Board of Supervisors, and overwhelmingly supported the elected bargaining team by voting down an unfair contract offer.
Just last week, more than 2,000 SEIU members rose up and demanded the County acknowledge the importance of the public services they provide daily and to honor their dedication to duty with a fair contract that allows them to care for their own families too.
The SEIU 721 Bargaining Team is pleased to announce they have reached a tentative settlement agreement with Riverside County which accomplished all of the goals set forth by the members at the start of these contract negotiations.
Namely, to restore step/merit increases, obtain Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA), and increase FLEX medical benefits to offset the rising cost of health care. In addition, the team was able to secure several other contract improvements, such as increased levels of Short-Term Disability benefits, uniform allowances and sick leave usage.
The County heard your voices and has provided a contract that ensures fairness
and dignity
for the hard working families of Riverside County.
The SEIU 721 Bargaining Team endorses a YES vote on the ratification of this agreement.
Time to Vote
Ratification ballots will be mailed to all members this week. You must be a member in good standing to be eligible to vote. Ballots must be received at the Riverside office by Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012.
Click here to download the Settlement Agreement.
Click here to view the Summary of Riverside County Settlement Agreement.
Click here to download a Summary spreadsheet of the Agreement.
The office opens at 8 am but you might find staff there a bit earlier.
How early can we drop off our ballots in Riverside? Just got mine and only have time before work.
I’m also getting nothing with this agreement. I’m one of those who get zip!! I do understand those that are voting YES because of the $2000 dangleling carrot in front of their faces. It’d be different if no cash was offered. I voted NO, come what may, although sadly I can guess what the outcome will be. For those of you who are getting bought out, enjoy your $2000, but make sure you spread the wealth over 5 years. Don’t spend it all in one place becaue it’ll be gone sooner than you think along with our dignity. And the… Read more »
I totally agree with you and I too will NOT receive the 2K bribe. I can’t live with myself to vote yes for this contract and I can’t afford another strike. However, if you don’t vote at all…that means you will allow SEIU to keep accepting offers that only benefits a few nursers or a few top out employees and so on. LIUNA does not do that. All the increases OR cuts to LIUNA employees are always across the board for everyone. We need to vote NO and tell SEIU that we need to hire a professional bargaining team like… Read more »
I’ve come to the conclusion that this contract will be voted in. In my office I’m the only one who’s not happy with this agreement. Of course I’m also the only one who isn’t topped out (or even close) and who won’t be getting the $2,000. I find myself stuck between two horrible solutions. I simply cannot afford either of them. If I vote no I’m pretty much guaranteed that a longer strike is in my future and after years of cuts and/or stagnant wages I can’t afford to lose even one more days pay. If I vote yes I’m… Read more »
Worksite Organizers have been holding worksite meetings across the county. If you would like to have one at your location, please contact Member Connection at 1(877)721-4YOU.
SEIU does NOT want to hold a meeting regarding the MOU like LIUNA because, SEIU just want the members to vote YES and shut up.
and after that, they will put a post on their website claiming Victory!
Unfortunately, there are a lot of members frustated out there and they will not go away….So can SOMEONE from SEIU respond to us? We pay our dues….you know. Why can’t you hold a big meeting to answer the member’s questions?
The union is not trying to bully anyone into voting no..they just included the realties to a no vote. It is still beyond me how so many people can be upset and think that we can get more if we vote no after we fought so hard to get what we got. A no vote means going back to imposition and GETTING NOTHING!!! I am voting yes so that we can all look forward to getting what we got and fighting to get EVEN more in the next negotiations. Two weeks ago we had nothing and now everyone is saying… Read more »
Thank you Martin Baxter. This really opens my eyes. I too have not had a raise since 2008 because all of the IT positions were “Reclassified” to lower paying jobs. (Same jobs, same people, same desks, everything. Just less money and the letters “IT” in front of my job title.) Here’s and idea – take the “O” out of “BOS”. What do you get? More of the same old…. It will be 10-11 years total for me to break even also. I did do all of the calculations and arrived at the same conclusion as you. I am voting “NO”… Read more »
I agree, where is the Fairness clause? It must be out the window!!!! If LIUNA gets 27%, we should be getting 27%. SEIU, how does it feel to have screwed your members. You were not successful in providing us what LIUNA has been able to accomplish. Why should we want to stay wit SEIU, it seems like LIUNA is a better deal for us. SEIU says that we get paid more and that is why we are getting less. I got my education so I can make more. But now with LIUNAs MOU, employees with little skills or education are… Read more »
What does ‘continuous’ service mean regarding the $1,000 payment to topped out employees? Will individuals who were AWOP for the stike or any other reason be excluded from this payment based on this language?
Is the deal perfect? No it isn’t, but I’m very confused by what anyone here hopes to accomplish by voting no and returning to impasse. If you are under the misguided delusion that rejecting the deal we’ve been offered will result in an enriched counter-offer then vote “no” and reap what you sow. I’ve read intimations on here that pin a lot of hope on AB 646 and forcing the county to fact finding and arbitration. Guess what folks AB 646 is not exactly crystal clear on when a public agency has to enter in to fact finding. As a… Read more »
With the tremendous amount of frustration, disappointment, and confusion in these posts SEIU SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO HOLD A MEETING ASAP. Here’s my story. I am not a vested employee and haven’t received a single raise since I was hired almost 4 years ago. This deal would ultimately give me a raise going forward. This would be GREAT for me, but my concern is this….I lost a day of pay to prove a point. That point was that we should get a fair contract -fair meaning similar to our sister unions. And although for ME the deal would be more than… Read more »
I got my paystub as well after going through the AWOP. It’s a big cut and sacrifice. I did it because I want to fight for fairness. Had I known that SEIU was going to accept this HORRIBLE deal only protecting the members making a HIGH salary and the ones at the TOP with a nice $2K for stimulus plan, I would NOT have participated on the STRIKE. This is a lesson learned. I make a low salary and LIUNA employees whom I work with will be making MORE than me and I am the one with a DEGREE. As… Read more »
SEIU 721 Comment Policy – Please honor these guidelines: * Comments should be relevant to the blog post. Your comments will have the greatest impact if they are brief and clear. * Please limit your comments to content related to the particular article, blog or web piece about which you are commenting. * No foul, discriminatory, defamatory, libelous, threatening language or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable language. * No invasion of others’ privacy. * Do not post material in violation of trademark or copyright laws or other laws. * No attacks that identify individuals, companies, unions or other organizations. *… Read more »
I received my ballot today. It was very disappointing to see the tactics our SEIU union is trying. Looking at the ballot I feel like I am being bullied into voting Yes. The County tried to bully us into not striking now our union is trying to bully us into voting yes. VOTE NO! Make our union earn the dues we pay. I received my paystub today after going AWOP on the 1/31 and I took a big cut. We sacrificed our time and pay now SEIU work on getting us a better contract. It would also be nice if… Read more »
I would appreciate if whoever decides which comments are posted and which are not would tell us the criteria used for making such decisions.
I have made several posts that were not posted. I find this highly undemocratic and untransparent. I’m disturbed (again) by how SEIU tries to control and spin the information that its members receive.
Thank you ZEE !! This is something to think about… Stop comparing our deal to LIUNA’s!!!! LIUNA did not negotiate layoff protection which means that if the County wants to lay these people off and rehire them, they will do so at 2% @ 60%. At least SEIU members get a full restoring of their benefits, years of service, and 3% at 60 if they get laid off. Also, no other union has the Single Highest Year benefit as a base year for retirement and instead, have a 3 year average of their final compensation year which greatly reduces their… Read more »
YOU ARE SO RIGHT. MANY OF US COULD HAVE LEFT YEARS AGO TO WORK AT OTHER FACILITIES WHERE WE COULD HAVE BEEN PAID MORE HOURLY AND RECEIVED FULL HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES WHEN WE RETIRED, BUT, BUT, BUT, WE CHOSE TO STAY BASED ON THE PROMISE BY THE COUNTY TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR PENSION. WE GAVE UP RAISES IN LIEU OF THIS PENSION CONTRIBUTION.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE NO!!!!!!
SEIU deal means no GROSS pay increase for anyone until July 2014 and some 2016. I don’t like the SEIU deal. Its not an increase to our NET pay. I can put it into excell to show you if you want. My rough calculations show it will take until July 2014 to make more than before the 3% taken for retirement last month. Factor in that we’ve had no COLA or step increase since 2008 and that makes 6 Years WITH NO INCREASE? Come on! 2012-2016 over the 5 years of the deal I will only earn $6000 more than… Read more »
Why do these comments get posted, but yet something negative gets filtered? We don’t have to agree, and should also have the opportunity to have our opinions posted.
Wow!! Why is seiu so fast to take this deal? If we are supposed to be a family, then why soooo fast to say yes? What no meeting with seiu to discuss concerns? They sure wanted meetings to strike and have the members not get paid. 1.) What happened to members who were hired before 1992, that shouldn’t have to pay into retirement? This was presented by BOS on their lfbo. I still want that perk and I’m sure alot will agree. 2.) What about the money put aside for new employees to be hired when members are still taking… Read more »
With all due respect, DO THE MATH!
5.5% of $80,000 is $4,400
27% of $40,000 is $10,000
LIUNA’s contract is costing the County WAY MORE.
and LIUNA has MORE employees than SEIU.
LIUNA 8,000 members
SEIU 5,600 members
I take that accounting is not your forte, but before you speak up at least do the math.
With the savings from screwing SEIU, management will give unrepresented and HR Confidential a nice 30% deal.
do you still vote Yes?
I am voting NO, I am voting NO, and it is a NO, NO,NO! By the way I am voting NO.
SEIU might pass this contract by 60% 70%…and still there will be a lot of angry people out there who just want to find another UNION!
For everyone who is assuming that all the members who are putting comments in this site are not involved with SEIU is just not true. I am very involved. I attend meetings. I always pass the word. Try to get others involved. I collected signature from the businesses that I go to… for SEIU to send to the BOS. I participated on the strike. I voted for Soubirous….Just to say a few. I am involved. Not all SEIU members make a higher salary than LIUNA. I guess if I was making a salary way higher than LIUNA, than I would… Read more »
You are absolutley RIGHT.
Management will give a big raise to Unrepresented and Confidential HR on top of their already high paying Salaries. Hence they insisted NOT having a Fairness Agreement with SEIU.
We, SEIU are the only ones screwed in this contract and YES! I attended the meetings and went on the 1-day strike. Even convinced some of my co-workers to participate on the strike. While I do believe our bargaining team works really hard for us and I respect them. I do admit that they should NOT have agreed with this contract.
VOTE YES! VOTE YES! VOTE YES! AND OHH BY THE WAY..PLEASE VOTE YES!
“…The majority wins, so you must vote “NO!” Seriously? Did the vote already happen and I didn’t get my ballot? Or are you just referring to the majority of the 91 comments on this page? Also who authorized you to order me or anyone else to vote No? My understanding is that a vote is an individuals choice and it’s up to them as to the reasons why they vote yes or no. I explained the reasons I am voting YES. You want to disagree with them fine but don’t tell me what I must vote and in MY OPINION… Read more »
I am so sick of hearing that anyone who disagrees was not sufficiently involved! It is possible to come to a different conclusion than yours! Even if someone never attended a single meeting the final outcome is what the bargaining team is going to be judged on.
Hollywood can’t churn out a stinker of a movie and tell us we all have to see it and like it because it was real hard for them to slap together. No, you take your money and your business elsewhere.
Yes, I was at some union meetings. I did not like all of the outside politics (1% talk, occupy, corps are evil etc).
I am new to seiu, not the county. I was satisfied with LIUNA as my union.
reply to Barry: Have you also gone to Union Meetings? Have you become involved? Have you attended negotiations? I have. Look at the bigger picture. We’ll take this now, and oust Bob Buster. With a new leader, comes change. The others will fall in line. Buster’s days of tyrannical reign will soon be over!
reply to New Employee: You need to hush and pay attention. Were you at any of the Union Meetings? Did you go to negotiations to observe? Probably not. Well, I did! The Union fought harder than I’ve ever seen.
Since you’re “new”, why not be an observer and learn. Then next time contracts are up, take an active part.
I read your comment, and it’s obvious you didn’t read the whole agreement. Rather, you may have skimmed through it. Re read it. It’s a great deal. And with some hard work, we’ll remove Bob Buster this coming election!
First of all MH – 5.5% of $80,000 is $4,400 while 27% of $40,000 is $10,800. Your argument just lost. Percentages do matter, Stop talking about how SEIU has higher paying jobs than LIUNA when comparing percentages. You will notice that the BoS didn’t give LIUNA a flat amount (like $4,400 per year or even $10,800 per year.) they give percentages. That makes it FAIR for everyone. The County entered negotiations facing the reality that if they give something to one, they must give it to all. Wait until the county gives Mgmt and unrepresented a bigger percentage than SEIU.… Read more »
Vote NO!!!! This agreement fails to address the broken promise of the county to the SEIU members who were hired before 1992. No where in this language do I see that the employees hired before 1992 DO NOT HAVE TO PAY INTO RETIREMENT. This is a committment made by the county long ago. IT IS A COMMITTMENT THAT WE HAVE COUNTED ON, FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS!!! What I see about the SEIU negoitation team is that they forgot to protect their long term membersf! And what that means is that any committment made by them is not a committment… Read more »
BRAVO! I’m ready to take it to the next level. Now that we have seen the way BOS/HR negotiations (or lack there of) we can step up to the plate and make them accountable. There is a new law that past on January 1, 2012, that demands Counties to submit financials instead of making them wait a year or two…like they did with us. This was something that the bargaining team had to file unfair labor practices on time, and time, again from the beginning. I have a feeling the next contract is going to hold folks even more accountable.… Read more »
Wha, wha, call the whambulance. I thank God for a bargaining team that understood, was not easily intimidated, and knew how to bargain in good faith. If this deal was left in the hands of HR, and the BOS’s, we would have become a right to work County, like the state of Arizona. Snap out of it peoples. Shish!
Hi,
I would like to thank all of the members that stood behind us during the last year. You guys were awesome. Your turn out on January 31st made history and it was off the chain! For all the naysayers.. I challenge you to join the bargaining team for the next go round. Together we can rule the world! Take care.
For all of you folks that feel the DDA and LIUNA received a much better deal… You are right. It is complicated. It is what it is. Now folks are coming out of the woodwork to actually have an opinion. It would have been nice if you all would have united pre dee-day to actually give input. Perhaps, you all should have voiced your opinions to the bargaining team, HR, or the BOS for at least a year. It is a bit after the fact, now. I have a suggestion: document all of your concerns, future ideas, and meaningful suggestions… Read more »
reply to Dana,
You’re a Supervisor – you are eligible for compaction. If you have LIUNA employees subordinate to you you will get a 5.5% increase every time they get a raise and it compacts your salary. Of course if your manager says “well you really don’t supervise your more like a lead.” Heard that before? The ParaProfessionals are the ones really taking it in the shorts. Promises of continued discussions with management is total Bull Crap.
For all of you who say LIUNA got more because they make less and we can’t complain about getting less, here’s why I’m unhappy. I’ve been stuck at the bottom of the pay scale for several years now. Because of this I make far less money then the people who work “under” me in positions that don’t require a degree or special license. The combination of LIUNA and SEIU new TAs will make this worse. At some point when I reach top step I will make more than those under me but not much. It’s not cheap to obtain a… Read more »
I am voting yes, but the union really sold out new employees. I am in a position where I am expected to promote twice within the next two years. Both of those promotions will now be at 5.5% less than before. Effectively, a 5.5% cut from what I expected / was told when I hired in.
Krae81 is absolutely right on this one. I am VOTING YES. Simply compare what you have today to what you will have once the new deal is signed. Don’t be greedy and see it as a blessing for all of us. VOTE YES!
I AM VOTING YES. “…restore step/merit increases, obtain Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA), and increase FLEX medical benefits to offset the rising cost of health care. In addition, the team was able to secure several other contract improvements, such as increased levels of Short-Term Disability benefits, uniform allowances and sick leave usage. ” Is better than zero or subtractions. Reading some of the comments about LIUNA’s contract I’d call some of it jealousy which benefits nobody.Plus 5.5% of $80000.00 is a lot more than 27% of $40000.00. I’m glad LIUNA members are getting an increase. Concepts like Fairness and Deserved… Read more »
You go! Well said. For anyone that doesn’t get it read it again.
Dont be fooled into voting YES because thats all we could get. The BOS has consistently treated SIEU members almost with what i would call disdain. Why? What have we done to be treated less than equal than other unions? Do they not like the color purple? If they cant afford a fair contract for everyone then its personal and not ” tough times”. Make them come back with an equitable deal and if they dont, mediation will urge them to explain their reasoning and definition of fair. Dont let them scare you, what they are doing is illegal and… Read more »
Any compaction fixes later on will only catapult those at top step higher. Anyone not topped out as of 2008 would continue to make less than their LIUNA counter parts and subordinates.
So many things to say… 1. It hasn’t been explained enough?? we need the union to serve us pizza on a silver platter for you to decide yes?? Last I checked we are all professionals and educated. Call the union if you have questions, read the contract, do your own math..BE AN ADULT. WE are the union..not the union staff. If you need more information go out there and get it. Those that think that we can do better and the bargaining team is horrible. Why don’t YOU become more involved, be on the bargaining team..do something to make a… Read more »
After LIUNA employees get 27% increase and SEIU employees get 13%
increase, There will be a salary compaction problem between some SEIU positions and LIUNA positions. Some SEIU positions will be LESS paid or EQUAL to LIUNA position and yet with higher education & job requirements.
If you think you will be affected by this compaction, make sure to email SEIU and let them know so that they can address this problem in the new agreement. SEIU has stated that they have not heard from all members affected by this Salary compaction problem.
VOTE NO!