SEIU Local 535

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A message to all Local 535 members from Damita Davis-Howard, Local 535 Executive Director

Posted July 18, 2006

Last March, you received a mailing from Local 535 advising that Service Employees International Union (SEIU) planned to conduct hearings "to review jurisdiction, including possible merger and/or consolidation of local unions, for workers in California." Since then, a series of hearings has been held to bring together members and leaders from around the state to examine SEIU's structure and determine if there is a better way to organize our local unions to build greater unity and more strength to win a better future for our members. Local 535 testified at eight hearings and made a number of proposals on how any restructure of local unions should be approached and implemented.

At the conclusion of the hearings, a report and recommendation on restructure was presented to the SEIU Executive Board. On June 10, the SEIU board voted to accept the report, restructure public sector local unions in California, and adopt a reorganization plan called "Unite to Win." The plan includes most of the proposals put forward by Local 535 during the hearing process.

The SEIU board adopted our proposal to create new, provisional locals rather than merge unions into existing locals. The restructure plan calls for the creation of four new public sector locals to cover the northern, central, southern, and San Diego regions of the state. Provisional locals will allow all the members to participate in the creation of new internal organizational structures, bylaws, and governance structures representative of all members.

In his message to SEIU locals in California, SEIU President Andy Stern said the plan will significantly enhance the ability of our 600,000 members in California to:

Build greater unity by creating stronger regional and statewide local unions and industry councils which will help focus our resources and strategies on winning better contracts and improving services in our communities.
Develop greater political strength to elect public officials and hold them accountable on issues important to SEIU members and their families.
Unite more workers into our union to give everyone more strength to negotiate good contracts and stand up for quality services.
Benefit from increased and improved communications so members stay informed and can participate in building a stronger union that consistently wins for our families and our future.
Strengthen members' voices in the workplace to solve problems, raise workplace standards, and improve their working lives.

The new provisional local in the northern region would include Local 535 members serviced out of our Oakland and Sacramento offices as well as all members (excluding IHSS home care workers) from Locals 614, 616, 707, 790, 949, 1280, 1292, 4988, and public workers of UHW (United Healthcare Workers West, formerly SEIU Local 250).

The new provisional local in the north central region would include Local 535 members serviced out of our San Jose and Fresno offices as well as all members (excluding IHSS home care workers) from Locals 415, 700, 715, and 817.

The new provisional local in the south central region (LA basin +) would include Local 535 members serviced out of our Pasadena and Santa Barbara offices (excluding Ventura County Community College District) as well as all members from Locals 347, 620, 660, 998, and 1997.

The new southern regional provisional local would include Local 535 members serviced out of our San Diego office and Local 2028 members.

Local 535 Kaiser members will become part of UHW.

President Stern has appointed me to assist the nine locals in the northern region, Kristy Sermersheim to assist with the north central locals, Annelle Grajeda to assist with the south central locals, and Ben Monterrosa to assist with the local in the San Diego area.

As we proposed, the SEIU Executive Board has called for a vote by all affected SEIU members on this realignment of local union jurisdictions. We anticipate ballots will be mailed to members on September 15 and the ballots counted in early October. SEIU President Andy Stern set the voting schedule to assure there is sufficient time for members to receive the necessary information and have an adequate opportunity to review and discuss these changes.

In the coming weeks, you will receive more information on the restructure plan. I encourage you to ask questions, attend meetings, and talk to your field staff, stewards, executive board delegates, and co-workers about the "Unite to Win" plan. For the latest information check here at : www.seiu535.org or SEIU's website: www.caunitetowin.org. In addition, we have set up an e-mail address for your questions: unitetowin@seiu535.org .

The "Unite to Win" plan is the big picture around which much important work must be done in the next six months. As I said when this process first started, I will make every effort to keep you informed and involved in this important decision.

Service Employees International Union Executive Board votes to restructure local unions in California to build greater unity and more strength for members

The International Executive Board (IEB) calls for a vote by the affected SEIU members on the realignment of local union jurisdiction

Posted June 14

Since January 2006, SEIU members and leaders in California have been examining our structure across the state to determine if there is a better way to organize California local unions to build greater unity and more strength to help members win a better future.

On Saturday, June 10, the Service Employees International Union Executive Board (IEB) voted to restructure local unions in California. The decision to build greater power for members in California is a positive result of The New Strength Unity Plan, adopted by delegates to the 2000 SEIU International Convention—called the “Unite To Win Plan”.

SEIU President Andy Stern outlined the elements of the International Executive Board’s decision concerning the "California Unite to Win” jurisdictional plan.

Click here to see letter: Andy L. Stern Jursidictional Letter

Local 535 proposals accepted

A jurisdictional report was submitted by hearing officers Alice Dale and Tom Balanoff. The jurisdictional report echoed many of Local 535's main proposals. Some of those main proposals are highlighted below:

PROVISIONAL LOCALS--NO MERGERS INTO EXSISTING UNIONS
Our proposal to create new locals rather than merge unions into an existing local was adopted to cover the northern, central, southern and San Diego regions. Provisional locals will allow all the members to participate in the creation of new internal organizational structures, bylaws, and governance structures representative of all members.
MEMBERSHIP VOTE
As we proposed, the IEB has called for a vote by the affected SEIU members on the realignment of local union jurisdiction. At the direction of SEIU President Andy Stern, the vote will take place at such time as to ensure that members receive the necessary information and have an adequate opportunity to review and discuss these changes.
ADVISORY BOARDS
Other proposals made by Local 535 that were part of the final decision include the creation of an advisory board consisting of members of the current local unions that will guide the provisional local through the process of implementation and transition. This advisory board will assist in creating bylaws, developing an appropriate infrastructure, and overseeing leadership elections to be representative of all members in the new union and ensuring representation continuity.

Click here to see the complete report: California Jursidictional Report

For more information: www.caunitetowin.org

PUBLIC HEALTH CARE JURISDICTION REVIEWED

Posted April 28

Public heath care jurisdiction was reviewed on April 22 in San Francisco and April 27 in Los Angeles. The following is Local 535's official testimony:

Health care continues to be a major arena in which the struggle between progressive values and corporate greed play out.

As healthcare providers and SEIU members the fact that our Union is a national voice for this struggle makes us proud and eager to take on future challenges.

Our members want to help build upon the dynamic energy that came from SEIU nurses in Southern California that led to the first state law in the nation protecting healthcare workers from the risks of needle sticks.

We want to help build on the work of SEIU Psychologists, Mental Health Professionals and Social Workers who used their sense of community to help lead the way in the passage of Proposition 63, the mental health initiative. Proposition 63, now law, sufficiently funds community mental health services; for the first time in four decades we have a real promise of deinstitutionalization.

In keeping with these ideals, Local 535 proposes the following:

SEIU members providing public health services through public hospitals and clinics should remain in public sector locals.

The fact that funding and operational decisions are made through public entities, argues that the political relationships existing in public sector unions should be maintained in order for us to win big for SEIU members in public sector health services.

Additionally we believe it is incumbent on SEIU to be a champion of public health as an intricate part of our plans to deliver health care for all. For far too many Californians, public hospitals and clinics are their only point of access to health care.

Healthcare delivered through public hospital systems is a primary part of the overall safety net that is provided through public services and by public employees. The struggle to maintain a vibrant and adequately funded public health care apparatus throughout the state is a base line of commitment to the public sector as part of the our struggles to maintain the safety net for America's most vulnerable citizens. This is often lost in private health care because of the harm done by big pharmaceutical corporations, the inefficiency of insurance companies and the corporate greed of private hospital networks operating to maximize profits first, last and always.

Public sector locals are positioned through this restructuring to unite to win bigger for all public workers through state and local political relationships. Through this restructuring, public sector locals will continue "the struggle" to maintain a vibrant and adequately funded public health care system throughout the state.

Private sector locals are positioned to fight--and have been winning--against private health systems. They understand the threats of corporate greed. Hence we propose:

Private Health Care Professionals should be part of private sector locals that will treat its members based on the following principles:

1. Allow private sector registered nurses and other private sector health care professionals to join their sisters and brothers in a local of professional health care providers.
2. Ensure that the professional interests of these members are honored
3. Allow the members to retain their current practice of member representation through a chapter structure
4. Allow the members to have a voice in the overall union governance

We believe the change process-as it affects private sector health care workers represented by a public sector union-can achieve the goals of Change to Win and the Seven Strengths most effectively by using these principles to guide the restructure of those workers into private sector locals.

UNITE TO WIN
Posted April 10, 2006

On March 24 and 25 in Los Angeles and April 7 and 8th in Burlingame, SEIU Public Division staff presented their proposal for the restructure of public sector unions in California. JJ Johnston, SEIU California Area Director, testified about the challenges SEIU faces as population shifts to the conservative inland counties while our members--and political strength--remain clustered in the coastal counties.

SEIU presented a proposed geographic restructuring plan recommending four regional locals to be established based upon an overlay of political trends, population growth and SEIU growth goals.

The goal of the hearings in California is to determine the best way to unite SEIU members in our state so that we can build the strength we need to meet the challenges we face in the 21st century. We know from experience that we are most successful when we work together--not only to beat back the attacks but also to fight forward to win real improvements for our members and all working families.

Members, officers and staff of Local 535 gave testimony on how best to build member strength and unity on March 24 in southern California and April 7 in northern California.(Click here to read our testimony on March 24 in southern California.)

On April 7 and 8^th in Burlingame, official presentations and member comments were given by locals: 415, 535, 614, 616, 707, 790, 715, 817, 949, 1280, 4988 and UHW.

On April 7, officers, members, and staff of Local 535 testified and the following is a synopsis of that testimony:

Restructuring In California should happen through the creation of provisional local union—NOT MERGERS

The goal for restructuring must be the creation of new local unions able to carry out the mandate of a 21^st Century local union. Those new entities should begin with clean slates as provisional locals with no pre-existing bureaucracies to stand in the way of change.

Mergers will import dysfunction from locals and entrench those of the large local unions absorbing the smaller ones—mergers alone will not create 21^st Century local unions.

The creation of provisional public sector local unions will unlock and combine the creative energy and experience of today’s member leaders and staff.

Bringing these forces together without the restraint, inhibition, and straight-up obstruction that would be present if they were merged into an existing bureaucracy will give SEIU the best chance of quickly and effectively becoming a 21^st Century union and winning big for members in California.

Three public sector provisional locals with region-specific jurisdictions

The Northern California provisional local should include all the jurisdictions currently represented by Locals 614, 616, 707, 790, 949, 1280, 1292, 4988, as well as all Local 535 members serviced out of 535’s Oakland and Sacramento offices including the State Bar (a statewide employer), San Andreas Regional Center (located in the South Bay), and Valley Mountain Regional Center (located in multiple counties including San Joaquin and Stanislaus) and Local 535 members serviced out of 535’s San Jose office that are located in Alameda County and north of San Mateo County.

The Central California provisional local should include all of the jurisdictions currently represented by Locals 415, 700, 715, 817, and all Local 535 members that are serviced out of 535’s San Jose (with the above exceptions) and Fresno offices.

The Southern California provisional local should include all of the jurisdictions currently represented by Locals 347, 620, 660, 998, 1997, 2028, and all Local 535 members that are serviced out of 535’s Pasadena, San Diego, and Santa Barbara offices.

Advisory committees to transition into new 21^st Century unions

California is a large and complex state. SEIU’s California public sector unions are equally complex organizations. Restructuring must be done carefully and deliberately.

We propose the creation of advisory committees consisting of an equal number of member leaders and staff from the local unions that make up the three provisional union locals.

The blueprint for the advisory committees would be based on the seven strengths. The group could make recommendations on the best staffing model, governance structure, database and financial systems, etc.

The task of the committees will be to provide operational continuity for the provisional locals through their transition to fully-chartered SEIU locals with bylaws, constitutions, and elected leaders as determined through a member-driven and democratic process.

The committees will serve as a resource to protect against the loss of valuable institutional memory and wisdom while providing advice and coordination around the multitude of implementation and transition issues.

IN CONCLUSION…

SEIU Local 535 offered its recommendations that were presented on March 24 in southern California:

Create Provisional Locals instead of mergers
Create An Advisory body to assist with transition and implementation in each new provisional local
Create three (3) provisional public sector locals
Ensure Operational Continuity
Create Industry Councils
Restructure other SEIU bodies that support public sector locals in California
Provide Full employment for staff
Allow All members to vote on the hearing officers’ recommendation
Preserve the history and culture of the current locals

SEIU Jurisdictional Hearings
Posted March 13, 2006

All Local 535 members were sent a mailing on March 10 regarding hearings that will be conducted by SEIU “to review jurisdiction, including possible merger and/or consolidation of local unions, for workers in California.” The outcome of these hearings will affect our union as 535 is one of over 20 SEIU locals in the state that represent public workers. We believe a goal of the hearings is to reduce the number of locals and concentrate member strength and unity.

If you are a 535 member and you have not received this mailing by March 15, contact your Local 535 office to make sure we have your correct address.

The formal hearing notice included the following: “SEIU is committed to building local unions with the ability to focus on their industry within the most logical geographic area in order to build power and raise standards for our members. To achieve these goals, the SEIU New Strength Unity Plan was established to build the strongest possible industry-based local unions, to create union-wide standards that will promote continued growth of our Union, and to concentrate the political power of our members. The New Strength Unity Plan seeks to reduce the fragmentation of an industry among local unions in the same geographic area or market and to achieve and maintain division standards for our members in their jurisdiction. While the New Strength Unity Plan recognizes that certain conditions may warrant exceptions, jurisdiction should be organized in a way that removes any obstacle to a local union taking maximum advantage of the political and market factors that will allow it to achieve the best possible wages, benefits and conditions for our members.”

Six hearings will be convened: two public sector jurisdiction hearings, two hearings on the long-term care and nursing home jurisdictions, a hearing on public hospital workers and private hospital workers represented by public sector locals, state workers, property services, and California State University jurisdictions, and a video conference for members in San Diego, Riverside, Fresno, and Sacramento.

A preliminary hearing was held on February 17 for the sole purpose of determining procedures to be followed in the hearing process. Local 535 testified at that hearing (the text of the testimony is below).

On March 2, we received notice of the dates of the two hearings on public sector jurisdictions: Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25 in Los Angeles and Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8 in the Bay Area. All meetings will start at 9:00 a.m.; the Friday hearings will last until 9:00 p.m. and the Saturday hearings will end at 7:00 p.m.. The March 24-25 hearing will be at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown, 711 So. Hope Street and the April 7-8 hearing will be at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, 1333 Bayshore Hwy. in Burlingame.

Each affected local union has been given a specific time to present testimony.

Local 535 is scheduled to make formal presentations at both of these hearings: 10:00 a.m. at the Friday, March 24 hearing and 2:00 p.m. at the April 7 hearing in Burlingame.

Members should check this website or check with their field staff for the most up-to-date information. SEIU will also establish a website to provide information about the jurisdiction process.

It is anticipated the hearing officer will present a report and recommendation in May or June to the SEIU international officers. That report will be submitted to the SEIU International Executive Board for adoption.

The officers and staff of Local 535 are committed to keeping members fully informed as this hearing process continues. Check this website for the latest news and information.

On February 17, 2006, Local 535 presented the following testimony at the SEIU jurisdictional hearing in Burlingame:

SEIU Local 535 represents over 30,000 social service, health care, and other workers in the public and private sectors throughout California. Our primary goal is to do what we can to ensure a member-friendly hearing process. To that end, we propose the following:

In addition to the public sector hearings in the north and south, we propose a third hearing be convened in the central valley. There are thousands of SEIU members in the valley and the region is one of the fastest growing areas of the state.

We propose that hearings be scheduled on Saturdays including daytime and evening hours to assure member access and participation in the process.

We assume there will be adequate notice of hearing dates and the hearing procedures; however, we ask that local unions receive at least 21 days’ notice of any scheduled hearings to assure full access for the membership.

We strongly believe it is imperative that all members vote on any proposed restructure.

Local 535 is committed to New Strength and Unity. We are committed to the principles of Seven Strengths and we are committed to building something stronger that wins for our members.