When Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) employee Billy Bowens received a negative Performance Appraisal that referenced a Letter of Instruction (LOI), he knew something wasn’t right. With SEIU Local 1000 by his side, Billy pushed back.
Management had ignored Billy’s rebuttal and even tried to block our union representative from presenting concerns during the informal discussion. The grievance process dragged on through multiple levels, with the department withdrawing proposals, issuing denials, and stalling with extensions. But our union didn’t back down.
After months of pressure, CalHR finally acknowledged that management’s actions were “inappropriate” and violated our contract. The results? The LOI will be permanently removed from his file, the appraisal will be corrected to reflect “meets expectations,” and the department reaffirmed its obligation to prevent discrimination and harassment.This victory is more than just paperwork—it protects a member’s reputation, future opportunities, and workplace rights. And it shows, once again, that when the State tries to undermine fair treatment, SEIU Local 1000 fights back—and wins.
“I received an inaccurate Performance Appraisal and an LOI from Riverside Department of Rehabilitation upper management. In 2025 it’s a shame we must continue to fight to be treated with dignity and equality. This has been going on for nine months, and this is one of the most traumatic times I have ever experienced in my life. Trying to do my regular job while dealing with upper management discriminating against me for standing up for myself and calling our union. I just want to thank my union rep, Jeannette Payne. She really took control of the situation in such a professional way, and that gave me peace of mind. I stood firm and refused “to be judged by the color of my skin, but by the content of my character.”” –Billy Bowens
📢 Workplace issue? Don’t face it alone. Call the Member Resource Center at 866.471.SEIU (7348).