Know Your Rights: You have the right to participate in union actions

Article Published on March 24, 2023

Did you know that, when your fellow state workers and union leaders talk about “standing together” and taking action to protect our rights or to win a new contract, that behavior is protected by provisions in our contract, and by California State Law.

Our contract campaign is already underway, and negotiations begin soon. We win a good contract when our represented workers stand up and take action in support of the bargaining team.

You have a right to take action in support of SEIU Local 1000! Here’s an outline of what you can do. If you are ever prevented from exercising your right to participate in any way, contact your Local 1000 job steward or the Member Resource Center (MRC) at 866.471.SEIU (7348).

Express your union beliefs
Your right to support the union and to express pro-union opinions to other employees and to management (Government Code section 3512 et seq. – “Dills Act”)

Wear your union colors
Your right to wear buttons and stickers and to wear union clothing (Dills Act)

Display union materials
Your right to post and display union materials inside your workspace (Dills Act)

Distribute union materials
Your right to distribute union materials during non-work time (Contract Article 2.4)

Post union materials
Your right to display union materials on appropriate bulletin boards (Contract Article 2.4)

Attend union meetings
Your right to attend union meetings on non-work time (Contract Article 2.5 and Dills Act)

Picket and demonstrate
Your right to picket or demonstrate in support of the union during non-work time (Dills Act)

Know Your Rights: Use the Contract Search Tool
Our contract contains hundreds of articles that govern our wages, benefits, and working conditions. You can learn more about those rights in an easy-to-use, mobile-friendly search tool, available at contract.seiu1000.org