Fresno County Members Are Involved

Volume 9; Issue 6 June 2011 Service Employees International Union, CTW-CLC

Fresno County Newsletter June 2011; FC Team:kl opeiu29 afl-cio 2011 SEIU521/CTW-CLC

On Thursday, May 19th SEIU Local 521 and Fresno County held a Furlough Settlement Conference with a PERB Hearing Officer. The County was NOT

WILLING to discuss a settlement. SEIU Local 521 has moved the ULP hearing to Monday, October 17th and

Tuesday, October 18th. At the hearing we will be able to present evidence and subpoena witnesses to testify before an

Administrative Law Judge, who will rule based on the evidence.

Budget hearings were completed on Friday, June 17th. The BOS voted and passed the budget by a 3-2 vote. On Wednesday, June 15th during the hearings the Auditor Controller made a presentation that up until June 15th there was an EXTRA 11.5 MILLION DOLLARS that had been collected from

property taxes and Teeter Funds, this helped offset the budget and the BOS voted to place approximately 3.9 million dollars in reserves for future budget shortfalls, 2.2 million dollars was given to the District Attorney to fund the salary reduction gap of 10% and all other departments were left to recognize the 10% salary reduction in their budgets. During the budget hearings the Board of

Supervisors were looking at departments to make further cuts in order to save money, whether it is cuts to services and supplies or layoffs. Without reaching agreements with all bargaining units to a 10% wage concession the BOS have serious concerns about the budget instructions that were given

to departments to cut their budgeted salaries by 10%. The concerns are based on thirteen agreements that have been reached and approved by the BOS for other associations ranging in amounts of 2.5% to 8%. There are numerous other bargaining units that have not met with the

county or whose MOU’s do not expire until later in the year, including SEIU.

The County wants 10% from YOU. When no one else including the BOS and CAO have not taken a 10% cut. What are you willing to do?

This Should Encourage All Members to Stand Up and Fight!

(Look for state budget update on the next page →)→)→)→)

Page 2

CA BUDGET: MORE CUTSCA BUDGET: MORE CUTSCA BUDGET: MORE CUTSCA BUDGET: MORE CUTS

SEIU 521 MEMBERS WAGED A GOOD FIGHT Governor Jerry Brown and the state’s Democratic legislators sealed the deal to pass a $86 billion budget in the final days of June.

But it comes at a high cost. To close a $9.6 billion deficit, the budget includes painful cuts to our schools and colleges, to our court system, and if rosy revenue projections don't come through, more health and human services programs will get slashed before this fiscal year is over.

Why are we stuck with another year of cuts, cuts and MORE cuts? Not for lack of trying from SEIU 521 members who joined thousands of others across the state calling on a handful of GOP legislators to do the right thing and help pass a balanced budget that wouldn’t destroy vital public services and programs.

Republican votes were needed for an election to allow voters to extend sales and vehicle taxes. When a minority of GOP legislators wouldn’t budge on extending revenues, Brown and the Democrats hammered out an imperfect budget deal that they could pass with a simple majority vote.

Budget highlights: ♦ $150 million cut each to University of California, California

State University

♦ $150 million cut to state courts

♦ $200 million in Amazon online tax enforcement

♦ $2.8 billion in deferrals to K-12 schools and community colleges

♦ $300 million from $12 per vehicle increase in DMV registration fee

♦ $50 million from fire fee for rural homeowners

♦ $1.7 billion from redevelopment agencies

The budget package counts on the state getting $4 billion in higher projected revenue. If that does not come through, we would get… guess what?.... MORE CUTS!

What do we do now? Stay on message and stay vigilant. • The answer to California’s structural budget deficit is REVENUES.

• We need real pension reform that doesn’t simply attack WORKING FAMILIES.

• We will be keeping a close watch on Sacramento and work with the leaders who aren’t afraid to show LEADERSHIP.

"This budget agreement is a first step in sparing work ing fami l ies in California from some of the worst of the budget cuts. But it is clear we need to find more resources to fund vital California services, be they libraries, schools, parks, health care

or local government.

Otherwise California will

continue to fade."

- Matt Nathanson, SEIU 521 Region 2 Vice President

Page 3

SEIU Local 521’s Women’s Caucus members donated the i r t ime on May 30, 2011 to the Holy Cross Shelter to give homeless women a special day. Everyone needs to feel special! The women at the Shelter enjoyed their special day of feeling pampered. Out on the streets these women lead a hard life and the chance to have their nails done and relax was very uplifting. The women also got the opportunity to chose some *BLING*. Members of the Women’s Caucus donated bracelets, hair bands and rings as well as hand lotions and spray scents for the women to use. It was a very enjoyable day for all who

participated.

The Women’s Caucus invites SEIU Local 521 members to come to our monthly meetings and take part in some of the activities. The goal of the Women’s Caucus is to unite, educate, organize, and empower the working women to become leaders in the union and be involved in

the community.

The Holy Cross Center for Women has been providing a safe haven for poor, homeless women and their children in downtown Fresno since 1984. Sponsored by Saint Agnes Medical Center and the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the Center provides food, clothing, laundry, shower facilities, educational and job training assistance, recreational activities and medical services, as well as a peaceful respite from the street. The women who come to the Center are predominantly young, impoverished, minority women with children.

WOMEN’S CAUCUS MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE

4TH THURSDAY OF THE MONTH AT THE UNION OFFICE

Families Come Together To Celebrate APALA’s 3rd Annual Heritage Event

APALA! Moving forward

in being involved in the

community.

Dignitaries Involved:

APALA President Federal Court News Media

Dancers Clovis Schools

Music Singers

For more information visit www.covermypaycheck.org

or call Diversified Benefits at 559-226-7133

→ Voluntary Long Term Life

• No health questions asked

• $0.78 per paycheck for all children

- $10K for each child

→ Voluntary Long Term Disability

• Benefits are available to support

partial work earnings

• With affordable group rates it complements and completes your

income protection

We insure our cars and our homes BUT Forget to insure ourselves and

our families.