May 21, 2026
“We’re not asking for anything excessive. We’re asking for the basics: safe working conditions, reliable equipment and the tools to do our jobs right.”
– Eric Murray, Chair of Bargaining Unit 15
This week, our Bargaining Unit 15 team came to the table focused on worker safety, broken equipment, and Post and Bid Protection.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS 📢
At the table, we proposed new contract language to protect custodial staff from being required to sort through trash, including reaching into garbage to remove or separate items. The State rejected this proposal on the basis that this is not normal policy and any isolated incidents should be reported as a Health and Safety Grievance instead.
If you’re being asked to sort trash at work:
- Stop and notify your supervisor immediately.
- Report it to your steward or Union Representative (866) 471-7348
- File a Health and Safety complaint.
You have the right to a safe workplace – and we will keep fighting to enforce it.
Our Unit 15 team also addressed issues regarding equipment not being maintained, repaired, or replaced in a timely fashion.
Broken equipment can be a serious hazard to Unit 15 members. We emphasized that when equipment fails, the job doesn’t stop. Expecting members to operate at a high level while failing to provide the tools to do our jobs right isn’t just irresponsible, it’s dangerous.
“No one should have to choose between doing their job and protecting their long term health. Too many of these issues are being held together with Band-Aids, we’re at a real breaking point.”
– Francis Vierra, BUNC Bargaining Team Member
Unit 15 also proposed rolling over existing Post and Bid language in our contract. While the State agreed to this, they also indicated they want to make “improvements.” Now more than ever, we are standing strong to protect our hard-fought Post and Bid rights and will not agree to changes that weaken or alter language without clear benefit to our members.
Don’t forget to keep watching your inbox every Thursday morning. Next week, we’ll be sharing an important announcement that you won’t want to miss!
Thank you for taking part in our Statewide Uniform Allowance Action! Your photos help strengthen our bargaining efforts by showing the State the actual employees in the field who work hard every day to keep things running and deserve a fair uniform allowance.