At a time when more Americans are living longer, raising the retirement age may seem like a good way to strengthen Social Security.

We need to get active and reach out to other voters and encourage them to vote for candidates who value government instead of trying to destroy vital services.

There is no doubt that we need to Rebuild California.That's why SEIU Local 1000 members have endorsed Jerry Brown for governor. And we want to hear how you would do it.

Today and likely for years to come, CalPERS faces unprecedented challenges in protecting pensions, investments and our health insurance benefits. Local 1000 has endorsed George Diehr as your CalPERS representative in the CalPERS Board of Administration election.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) makes 10-year projections about job growth in the U.S., and the Employment Development Department (EDD) extracts data specific to California. The most recent projections are for the time span of 2006 to 2016. While the economy has struggled since the release of these projections, causing probable decreases in the number of projected jobs, we still find it helpful to identify the areas of projected job growth in California for jobs similar to those represented in Unit 15.

Bargaining Unit 3 (BU3) welcomes new members and officers to its Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committee (BUNC) as a result of a special election on August 15.

An initial meet and confer was held with CDCR in late May on the effects of recent changes in the penal code on the workload of correctional case records analysts (CCRAs). Although no concrete agreements were reached, the meeting was helpful in developing a framework for future discussions. Representing Local 1000 were CCRAs Karen Devoll of Jamestown and Rhonda Roduner of Chowchilla.

Local 1000 members have scored a major victory in Superior Court. As a result, it will be several months before a decision on whether...

On Aug. 25 the Sacramento County Superior Court effectively blocked the governor's bid to impose minimum wage--at least for the next few months.

Judge Patrick Marlette sided with State Controller John Chiang and issued a ruling that Chiang's challenge to the governor's latest minimum wage order has enough merit to require a full hearing.

Jerry Brown: I'm talking to Bill Clinton's people

Ignoring a plea from the largest state worker union, the CalPERS board adopted a new policy last week allowing the state to get immediate savings from new contracts boosting worker pension payments.

Ninety years ago this August, women finally won the right to vote when the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. But instead of taking that right seriously, Meg Whitman has rarely voted for three decades. She wants to be our next governor -- but shouldn't she show more respect for the struggles that earned women the right to vote?

The last straw for the thirty correctional case records analysts and technicians working at Case Records North in Rancho Cordova was this outrageous remark by a CDCR manager: "If you're having stress at work, it's because you're having problems at home. Stop taking your home-problems to work."

Voter registration a key for November successYour vote matters: elect legislators that support the state services we provideKnow Your Rights: Your right to participate in...

Making our voices heard at the ballot box is more important than ever for our families' financial security as we continue being used as political pawns through furloughs and minimum wage threats.

Unit 1 continues to monitor the status of 180 Unit 3 employees who transferred last March to Unit 1 positions in lieu of layoff. It's been a difficult transition for many. William Hall, one of about a dozen Unit 1 Statewide Bargaining Advisory Committee (SBAC) members who volunteered to call Unit 3 transfers, says: "They are mourning the loss of their prior teaching positions. The transition to analytical work, and the management style that goes with it, can be a challenge."

Local 1000 attorneys will pursue legal action involving the imposition of a third furlough day in August.Last week's furloughs made national headlines. We'll let...

After twelve months of fighting a bad boss, steward Jeff Recht was successful in reaching an agreement to transfer an associate information systems analyst to another supervisor. Jeff is a Unit 1 Classification Bargaining Unit Representative (CBUR) for Sacramento.

Local 1000 attorneys will pursue legal action involving the imposition of a third furlough day once a stay is lifted on the temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking furloughs.

A major organizational priority this summer is political activism. Unit 1 members are committed to electing local and statewide candidates who support public services - and then hold them accountable. The November election is coming up and we need even more volunteers to ensure the right candidates win. If you can help, contact unit1@seiu1000.org.

Friday nearly 150-thousand state workers will be furloughed again - and businesses around the Capitol aren't happy about it. Business owners and their employees say state workers aren't the only ones experiencing a pay cut.

A way to build support for public services is to make sure our voice is being heard in the local media.  Here are some excerpts...

Nearly 150,000 state workers, including many of the 95,000 Local 1000 members, will be furloughed after a state Supreme Court decision to allow furloughs...

Our legal team continues fight in court

The California Supreme Court has accepted review of the furlough temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Alameda Superior Court and has stayed any further lower court action in this case.

Their ruling means furloughs are back on--beginning Fri., Aug. 20--until the high court makes a decision on this furlough case.

Courts block furloughs for all state employees: Local 1000 litigation stops gov's scheme60,000+ calls for member resource centerChannel 1000 LIVEKnow Your Rights: Members' and stewards'...

The California Supreme Court has accepted review of the furlough temporary restraining order (TRO) ruling issued by the Alameda Superior Court and has stayed any further action in this case.

It appears from this very brief ruling that because Local 1000's original furlough challenge is going to be heard by the Supreme Court on Sept. 8, the court has decided that until it has a chance to issue a decision following the Sept. 8 oral arguments, any intermediate hearing in any lower court on the governor's authority to impose furloughs is suspended.

Breaking News coverage on Supreme Court ruling on furloughs....

Local 1000 member negotiators have made significant progress on two key issues...retirement and duration of contract...during face-to-face meetings with the governor's bargaining team.  We'll...

Our bargaining team made significant movement on two key issues--retirement and duration of the contract--during yesterday's negotiation session. Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker told the governor's negotiators, "There's not much more room for us to move."

Local 1000 proposed that employees contribute an additional 2 percent to their retirement plan, and agreed to a new pension formula for safety employees hired after ratification of the agreement.

Local 1000 member negotiators returned to the bargaining table today as they continue to press for a contract that provides certainty and security for our members.

Last week the state agreed to our proposals on four issues: use of state-owned housing, a bargaining unit 15 Upward Mobility Committee, uniformity of language on retirement for employees, and updating the supersession portion of our agreement.

Local 1000 has submitted its arguments to the Supreme Court, just days after the Court of Appeal upheld the temporary restraining order blocking the...

Employees of state & local government earn an average of 11% and 12% less, respectively, than comparable private sector employees. An analysis spanning two decades shows the pay gap between public and private sector employees has widened in recent years.

Local 1000's Member Resource Center is fielding more questions than ever from members, on topics ranging from filing a grievance to identifying your job steward or even discounts on theme park admissions and other member benefits.

Question: Can you give us a legislative update?

Our ongoing campaign against furloughs led a superior court judge to issue a court order last week blocking the governor's latest furlough pay cut.

Our bargaining team met briefly with the state on Thurs., Aug. 12. The state agreed to our proposals on use of state-owned housing, a committee on upward mobility for Unit 15, uniformity of retirement language for all nine bargaining units, and updating the "supersession" part of our agreement.

Although state negotiators agreed to four of our proposals, they did not change positions on major economic issues.

Following Thursday's defeat in the Court of Appeal, Gov. Schwarzenegger is nowasking the state Supreme Court to overturn our Superior Court victory blockingfurloughs. We'll...

Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker answers your questions on furloughs, minimum wage, contract negotiations and the state budget.Note: There is no Closed Captioning available for...

Friday afternoon the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco rejected the governor's attempt to overturn our court victory blocking furloughs.

As a result of today's ruling, furloughs are suspended until a court rules otherwise. The next scheduled court date on furloughs is Sept. 13.

The First District Court of Appeal rejected Governor Schwarzenegger's attempt to overturn our court victory blocking furloughs until at least the Sept. 13 court...

Local 1000 member negotiators have delivered their new comprehensive contract counterproposal to the governor's bargaining team.  We'll explain the finer points and tell you...

Just days after taking away a third of the $1 billion in concessions being demanded by the governor, state negotiators are now working through Local 1000's new comprehensive contract proposal delivered during face-to-face negotiations Tuesday afternoon.

Click here to view our latest proposals

Late yesterday, Local 1000's legal team won a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking all furloughs for Local 1000-represented employees, regardless of funding source.

Alameda Superior Court Judge Steven Brick ruled that there are "serious questions" about the legality of the furloughs and that permitting them to be implemented before a scheduled Sept. 13 court hearing could cause irreparable harm to state employees.

Gov. Schwarzenegger is calling our 15 percent furlough pay cut "a little haircut," and says he's "not taking anything away from any state employee."

Our members called the governor on his lies. More than 100 members protested at the Hollywood premiere of Arnold's newest movie "The Expendables" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

President Yvonne Walker responds after Local 1000 legal team wins a temporary restraining order to block furloughs for all Local 1000-represented employees.We'll tell you...

In a new report released Aug. 10, research details how Wall Street owes California tax payers billions and continues to bilk the state in the foreclosure crisis, loss in lending to small businesses, unpaid property tax and more.

Local 1000's legal team won a temporary restraining order blocking all furloughs for Local 1000-represented employees.  Details available right now on The Channel 1000...

Your two minute survey -- done in May 2010 -- that was supposed to be confidential was released to the press by a unknown person. We will contact the director and ask for an investigation into who leaked it and why.

Within the next few weeks, our legal team will be in several court venues fighting furloughs in both General Fund and non-General Fund agencies.

Our attorneys will be in Alameda County Superior Court on Aug. 9 seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) to immediately block furloughs for all Local 1000 members, regardless of funding source.

On Thursday, the governor's bargaining team withdrew takeaways equaling one-third of the nearly one billion dollars in concessions they proposed in July. Our bargaining team credits widespread member actions for the state's takeaway withdrawals.

The state is still demanding more than $650 million in concessions over two years, including changes in employee pension contributions and the retirement formula, the calculation of overtime and a one-day-per-month personal leave program.

The governor's bargaining team has withdrawn takeaways equaling one-third of the nearly $1 billion in concessions they proposed last month. We'll tell you about...

By draining millions of dollars from the economy and causing layoffs.

Nearly 100 Local 1000 members sent a message to the governor on Tuesday: Furloughing state employees - particularly DMV workers - makes no sense at revenue producing agencies.

The message was loud and clear at a rally outside DMV headquarters Tuesday in Sacramento. The speakers included several frontline DMV workers along with Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker and Assembly members Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) and Sandre' Swanson (D-Oakland).

Local 1000's legal team will be in Superior Court Monday seeking an immediate block of the governor's new furlough order.Plus, we'll tell you about...

Members use gov's cameo as opportunity to educate public

Nearly one-hundred Local 1000 members picketed the movie premiere of "The Expendables"--where Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a cameo appearance--to increase public awareness of the economic hardship state workers face due to continued furloughs.

1. When do the new furloughs begin?
According to the governor's Executive Order (S-12-10), "the DPA (Department of Personnel Administration) shall adopt a furlough plan that will result in the closing of general government operations on the second, third and fourth Fridays of each month, beginning in August 2010." This means the first furlough day is Fri., Aug. 13, 2010.

Question

With the death of Senator Dave Cox, there are now two vacant seats in the state Senate. What is the new number of "yes" votes needed for AB 1699 to pass in the Senate?

- James, Sacramento

Walker: Governor's furlough order equals "failed leadership"Take Action: Tell the governor "Your failed leadership hurts California"Channel 1000 LIVE in San DiegoFurlough FAQsKnow Your Rights: You...

Local 1000's legal team will be in Superior Court next Monday seeking to immediately block Gov. Schwarzenegger's latest furlough order. Our attorneys will be asking Judge Steven Brick to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block furloughs, which are set to begin again on Fri., Aug. 13.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke this morning to the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Fresno. During a question-and-answer period, he was asked, "Why did the state workers have to bear the brunt of fiscal mismanagement? When do we get our money back? When will the furloughs end?"

Local 1000 attorneys are taking the next step to block the governor's latest furlough attempt and they need your help.Plus, hear from Local 1000...

Rather than taking a pay cut as intended, hundreds of state managers and other high-level workers brought home more money than usual during some furlough weeks thanks to an obscure federal labor law, a California Watch review of state records has found.

Less than two days after Gov. Schwarzenegger issued a new furlough order, Local 1000 attorneys were in California Superior Court for Alameda County asking for permission to add the new order to an existing lawsuit. Judge Steven Brick granted Local 1000's motion and allowed the amendment, which Local 1000 will file on Aug. 4.

SEIU Local 1000 attorneys are looking for worker declarations to support their legal challenges to the most recent furlough order issued by the governor last week. If you fit the below criteria, and would like to assist Local 1000 by signing a declaration, please send an e-mail to hardship@seiu1000.org right away. If possible, you should use a private e-mail address when sending your response to Local 1000.

An Alameda County Superior Court judge will allow Local 1000 attorneys to include the governor's new executive order on furloughs in its suit seeking...

Our bargaining team is awaiting a response from the governor's negotiators after delivering a comprehensive counterproposal for settlement on Tues., July 27. Our counterproposal was necessary after the state failed to address any of the key issues in our original settlement proposal.

Our counterproposal addresses seven key issues including salaries, the personal leave program, pensions, holidays, overtime, the length of the agreement and retiree health benefits.

His order to resume furloughs next month essentially doubled-down Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bet that he has the authority to impose unpaid days off on state workers.