SEIU Local 535

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Final Contract Settlement is Approved by 98%

Membership to focus on electing a governor that supports working family issues

(San Jose, Calif.)--Friday, October 12--The agreement, which was recommended by the SEIU Local 535 bargaining committee, has been approved by Santa Clara County Workers Chapter membership by 98% of members voting.

The agreement includes:

Cost of living increases in each year of the contract
Improvements in the retirement benefit
contract provisions that provide for caseload standards
Specific caseload standards for most classifications
Multiple improvements in contract language that will benefit our membership

The Santa Clara County Workers chapter will now change its focus to the upcoming November 7th election. Local 535 members in Santa Clara County and throughout the state will be volunteering to precinct walk and phone bank to encourage voters to elect a Governor that supports working family issues.

Santa Clara County Social Worker Strike Averted
Contract provisions for caseload standards maintained

(San Jose, Calif.)--Thursday, October 5, 2006--After a long night of negotiations, SEIU Local 535 and Santa Clara County negotiators reached a tentative agreement for a new contract around 1 AM.

The tentative agreement, which is recommended by the SEIU Local 535 bargaining committee includes:

Cost of living increases in each year of the contract
Improvements in the retirement benefit
Maintenance of contract provisions that provide for caseload standards
Specific caseload standards for most classifications
Multiple improvements in contract language that will benefit our membership

Service Employees International Union Local 535 represents more than 1,000 Social Services agency workers including Child Welfare Workers, Adult Protective Workers, Eligibility Workers and In-Home Support Service who care for abused children, seniors and the poor. The Local 535 membership is likely to vote to accept the tentative agreement on Wednesday, October 11.

Hundreds of Social Workers Will Demonstrate Outside the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Building on October 3

1000 social workers and other social service workers will strike on Thursday, October 5

(San Jose, CA--October 3) Hundreds of Social Workers and other employees will rally outside the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Building for a fair contract on Tuesday, October 3. During the meeting, social workers will outline why workload standards must be maintained and/or improved in their next contract to provide quality services to the County's most vulnerable.

SEIU Local 535 represents 1,000 social workers and other employees of the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency which will strike against Santa Clara County on Thursday, October 5. Social Services agency workers include Child Welfare Workers, Adult Protective Workers, Eligibility Workers and In-Home Support Service Workers.

While the County refuses to understand the day-to-day realities of what social workers are capable of performing, the County Board of Supervisors will honor Dan Weidmen, a Child Welfare Social Worker, as County Employee of the Month. He too will protest the county's decision to bargain unrealistic caseloads that could diminish the quality of services per child.

"Workloads are already dangerously high and the County's plan will jeopardize critical services to the most vulnerable members of our community: abused children, the elderly and the poor," said Weidmen, a Child Welfare Social Worker and County Employee of the month.

Many of the issues relating to workload standards were established as part of the SEIU Local 535 Santa Clara Workers Chapter by a 17-day strike in 1975. For SEIU Local 535 membership, these standards are heart of our contract.

THE EVENT

Hundreds of Santa Clara County Social Workers and Other Workers Will Demonstrate/Rally Outside and Inside the Board of Supervisors Building

WHEN: Tuesday, October 3

TIME: 9:30 AM
WHERE: Santa Clara County Board Of Supervisors, 70 West Hedding, San Jose, CA

Santa Clara County Strike date is now set : Thursday, October 5, 2006 and Friday, October 6

(Sept.28 2006)--Today we have met with the Mediator and the County of Santa Clara Negotiations Team. Unfortunately we do not have good news to tell you.

The County negotiators conveyed to us that they did not have the authority to bargain for more than the County’s previously presented as their last, best, and final offer. Our members overwhelmingly rejected this proposal.

Management’s spokes person informed the Union that the Board of Supervisors would be willing to hear from SEIU Local 535 regarding the last outstanding issues. We were asked to present to the Board of Supervisors our last, best, and very final proposal.

SEIU Local 535 will tomorrow deliver to Labor Relations and to the Members of the Board of the Supervisors a letter outlining the outstanding issues.

We will also convey that SEIU Local 535 would like the County and the Board of Supervisors to give Labor Relations the authority to bargain this contract to its resolution.

The SEIU Local 535 Officers/negotiations team met this afternoon and will inform the membership tomorrow that a Strike date is now set for Thursday, October 5, 2006 and Friday, October 6, 2006. No end date will be set for this strike. It’s of great importance that we immediately obtain names, cell phone numbers, and locations of members volunteering to be strike Captains. More information will be forthcoming tomorrow.

On Tuesday, October 3, 2006 there is a Board of Supervisors Meeting that will honor the Worker Chapter Services Vice President, Dan Weidman as County employee of the month. We are inviting the membership to participate at this Board of Supervisors meeting to help honoring our brother and also to help us to bring these contract negotiations to conclusion. We need your support at this Board meeting. More information concerning this matter will be sent tomorrow.

Santa Clara County Workers Chapter of Local 535 overwhelmingly voted to reject the last contract County offer and authorize a strike if needed

Voting extended to Friday to let every member's voice heard

(Sept.21, 2006)--Yesterday the membership of the Worker Chapter of Santa Clara County has overwhelmingly voted to reject the last Contract County offer, and to authorize a Strike if needed. The Worker Chapter negotiators are always available to return to the table as soon as the County wishes to make changes and improvements on their contract proposal.

It is important that every member of the Worker Chapter has their voice heard before we go on Strike and to that end SEIU Local 535 Worker Chapter will continue the contract ratification voting on Friday, September 22, 2006 at the following locations: AAC, East Valley, and 373 West Julian.