After State negotiators called a three-day “blackout” of bargaining activity earlier this week, a strong member protest in Sacramento Wednesday demonstrated our resolve to win a good contract and drove the State back to the table in just one day.
This is what it takes to win. The State has heard us loud and clear.
While hundreds of members were on hand to make our demands visible, we were joined by leaders from unions across California, as well as community leaders and elected officials, all allies in the fight for a livable wage.
Eight protestors were arrested for civil disobedience as they stood strong against the unfair treatment state workers have seen from the Governor’s bargaining team:
- Lorena Gonzalez of the California Labor Council
- Anica Walls, SEIU Local 1000 Vice President for Organizing / Representation
- Francesca Wander, SEIU Local 1000 member at the Department of Housing and Community Development
- Councilmember Katie Valenzuela, representing Sacramento’s District 4 on the City Council
- Nina Schulman, SEIU Local 1000 Executive Director
- Councilmember Caity Maple, representing Sacramento’s District 5 on the City Council
- Jonah Paul, President of DLC 785, representing downtown Sacramento
- Fabrizio Sasso, Executive Director of the Sacramento Central Labor Council
Television and print media covered the event, acting as a force multiplier to get our message of Respect Us! Protect Us! Pay Us! out to the people we serve. Click the links below to watch and read:
Yesterday’s coverage on TV: KCRA-TV and KTXL Fox40
Editorial coverage: KPBS.org (San Diego); Sacramento Bee; Fox40 TV; and KCRA-TV
Bargaining Update:
Our bargaining team was back at the table today, working on a range of issues that affect all our represented members, key among them, a general salary increase and the health care stipend. There’s more: We’re continuing to evaluate the State’s response to our requests for Special Salary Adjustments, for skill-based differentials, recruitment and retention pay, and other reimbursements and allowances.
We’re pressing the State to resolve our negotiations positively — and quickly. Toward that goal, we’re literally meeting throughout the day and night. When there’s activity at the table, we’ll email and post the results, often on the same day. Click here to read all the recaps of bargaining activity.