Providing Real Representation for our Members is a Local 1000 Priority

Our contract contains hundreds of provisions that govern our wages, working conditions and benefits. Those hard-won rights are protected and enforced by members and staff, including our job stewards, our Member Resource Call Center, and our Union Resource Center. If you have an issue or believe your rights are being violated, contact your workplace steward and let’s work together to solve your issues. Here are some recent examples of members working with their union to win!

WIN – Vacation Denial Reversed for Prison RN

One of our members—a Registered Nurse working at a SoCal prison—was recently denied a vacation request by her supervisor, who said “there are too many RN vacancies, sorry.” She engaged with her workplace job steward, who communicated with the prison’s labor relations representative. Local 1000 argued the denial was unreasonable, and during the conversation the prison Nursing Director realized there was a spot available for our member. The denial was overturned and the vacation was allowed.

WIN – Unpaid MSA Correction Delivers Back Pay, Interest

When a member’s rightfully-earned MSA went unpaid by the Department of Industrial Relations, our Union Resource Center was asked to help. Remarkably, the raise had gone unpaid despite the department’s admission of the error. Even with the URC and the agency’s labor relations representative involved, the correction still took several months to resolve. At the end, our member received the correct salary, back pay, and interest.

WIN –Unreasonable Working Conditions Resolved at DMV

A Southern California DMV office moved its “Start Here” desk outdoors in response to the pandemic. Our members were required to stand and interact with customers, get more information and to provide a service ticket. The members, working outside, were provided no water and not enough chairs for every employee. Arguments about chair usage and who could sit created low morale. An office supervisor denied water because of “concerns related to COVID-19.” Despite the obvious issue and a contract language that protects employees against heat illness, it took several rounds of communication with DMV for our members to receive sufficient chairs, a revised outdoor schedule, and water to drink.

If you feel your rights are being violated, contact your local steward, or Call the Member Resource Center (MRC) at 866.471.SEIU (7348).

You can learn more about your rights and read your contract online—it’s searchable!—at contract.seiu1000.org