Every year in Los Angeles County thousands of children are left in a lurch, waiting to be placed with a loving family. Sometimes social workers get 20, 30, or 40 rejections before they can place a child. We are in a placement crisis. The SEIU 721 Placement Forum on March 25th brought social workers together from across Southern California to tackle this immense problem.
Like all of you, we were devastated by the death of Gabriel Fernandez, who was abused and murdered by his parents while in the L.A. County DCFS child welfare system. For years our union has advocated tirelessly for reforms that could have helped prevent this tragedy.
SEIU Local 721 County of Ventura members sent a message to the Board of Supervisors, in person: “Give us thanks for a job well done!”
When it comes to protecting vital public services, our County of Ventura members are ready to do Whatever It Takes! Members across the county have come together to lift their collective voice, demanding that the county invest in our community!
The Fight Is Just Beginning
The election on November 8th should have been a triumph for working people and our country. Instead it was a tragedy.
We stood together in unity with the bargaining team and our work paid off. The bargaining team reached a Tentative Agreement on a strong contract that will help Lift Up Ventura Superior Courts!
Members fought at the bargaining table to help win a fair pension reopener agreement that worked for them and their families.
The SEIU Local 721 Santa Barbara County bargaining team met with County negotiators for its initial session. The SEIU team is in the process of formulating its proposals which will help strengthen Santa Barbara County – for workers and the rest of the community.
All SEIU 721 bargaining units (A, G, S & Q) in the City of Ventura voted overwhelmingly to approve the tentative agreement. Voting and information sessions took place at various worksites on April 20 and April 28.
Last year L.A. County’s Eligibility Workers (EW) decided they had enough with the outrageous number of cases per EW and they mobilized to bring lasting changes and won an additional 200 plus EWs. Now comes the news of EW’s setting themselves for an even bigger victory– LA County CEO Employee Relations Department has agreed to coordinate a meeting between SEIU 721 members and DPSS officials in the next 45 days to settle the caseload crisis once and for all.