| November 2014 Update |
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Join HomeWalk 2014: Help Raise Money for LA’s Homeless
 Learn more and register »
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How Can We Win Big on Health Care, Hours, and Training? Make Sure You’re An Official SEIU Local 99 Member
As we begin our contract negotiations on health care and contractual committees to increase hours, address workload and expand job training, we need the District to know that we stand strong and united.
You can help strengthen our fight by making sure you’re an official SEIU Local 99 member. As an official union member, you let your school site and the District know that you’re serious about winning better wages, increased work hours, access to healthcare, worksite protections and better schools for our kids. Learn more »
Apply for membership online »
Already a member? Take paid time off from your job to strengthen our union by recruiting more workers to become members.
Apply »
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Announcing New Teacher Training Program
SEIU Local 99 is working with UTLA and the District to create a new training program to help Local 99 members obtain their teaching credentials and gain employment in the District as teachers.
Learn more about the program »
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College Scholarships for Union Members & Their Families
SEIU Local 99 SEIU and Union Plus offer college scholarships for union members and their families.
Through four different scholarship programs, SEIU awards 50 scholarships ranging from $1000 to $5000 that enable SEIU members and their children to pursue their educational goals at colleges, universities, labor study programs and technical schools. The SEIU Scholarship application for 2015-16 will be available Dec. 1, 2014 at http://bit.ly/1yzouUr
Union Plus also offers scholarships for current and retired union members, their spouses and their dependent children. Amounts range from $500 to $4,000. The application is available now at http://bit.ly/1sNpXnJ
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Remembering What Unions Have Won
Local 99 Members, we stand on the shoulders of our brothers and sisters who have come before us in the fight for social and economic justice and equality. And while we stand, we owe it to them, ourselves, and our children, to continue building on the progress they have made.
Let us remind everyone of the ways we—the strong men and women of the labor movement—have improved the lives of millions of working Americans!
Check out our list of victories »
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Training & Career Advancement Talks Get Underway with LAUSD
In our recent contract SEIU Local 99 members won the right to establish committees that will work directly with the District to expand training and job advancement opportunities, ensure safety and materials on the job, and expand hours and work year. These committees are moving forward and on October 29, 2014, our member-led Training and Job Advancement Committee met with the District for the first time. Read more »
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Bargaining Dates Set for Talks with District on Hours & Workload, Safety, and Training
Our new contract also set-up committees to address the key job issues identified by Local 99 members. We have set-up dates with the District to begin talks on expanding hours, increasing full time positions, ensuring safety on the job, securing sufficient materials to complete our jobs, and opening up new training opportunities for career advancement. More information will be available as these committees meet. Please check our website at www.seiu99.org. Meetings with the District are scheduled on the following days:
- Hours and Workload Committee – November 19
- Safety and Materials Committee – Mid-November
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I wish I’d known my union rights!
 A few years ago, Union Avenue Elementary Teacher Assistant Jennifer Solis was laid off from Belmont High School.
“After I learned we might lose our jobs, I tried to advocate for TAs at a meeting of the committee making staffing decisions and they kicked me out! I remember I felt so humiliated,” says Jennifer. “I wish I’d known more about my union and my rights. We felt powerless. It was depressing. I was out of work for more than a year.”
Then Jennifer found her current TA position on the SEIU Local 99 website’s “Jobs Clearinghouse.” Read more about Jennifer’s story »
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Volunteers Needed: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Clinics
We know that families are connected to schools more than any other organization in our local communities. And when it comes to sensitive issues, like immigration, families are more likely to seek help and support in their neighborhood schools. Learn more »
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LAUSD Announces Hiring Freeze: How will it affect you?
You may have received an LAUSD Memo from Superintendent Ramon Cortines regarding a hiring freeze for certificated and classified positions.
We do not expect that current SEIU Local 99 members will be impacted significantly by this two-month hiring freeze. In fact, most school-based positions are exempt from the hiring freeze.
While we are encouraged that the Superintendent is working to reduce the impact of hiring freezes on direct student services, we know that our schools have not recovered from the drastic cuts of the past few years. As you know, many positions, particularly custodial and cafeteria services, are severely understaffed. As the Superintendent reviews the District’s budget over the next months, we will let him know that it is critical that he consider the restoration of essential student services. Our students can’t have clean, safe, healthy and supportive schools without sufficient staff and work hours. Read more »
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SEIU 99 Members with Health Benefits at LAUSD: Open Enrollment Ends Nov. 23
The Open Enrollment period for health care benefits is now underway until November 23, 2014. Information on your current benefits and enrolled dependents can be found on LAUSD’s website. To ensure that your selected changes are in effect on January 1, 2015, you must make changes to your benefits by November 23. If you do not need to make any changes to your plan, you do not need to take any action. But if you want to add dependents, switch plans or make any other change, be sure to do so my November 23
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Free Food Distribution at SEIU 99 Food Pantry in VALLEY: November 23
SEIU Local 99 has a food pantry available for anyone in the San Fernando Valley in need of help. On Sunday, November 23, 2014, Local 99 will be distributing bags of food from our San Fernando Valley office located at: 8363 Reseda Blvd. Suite 6, Northridge, CA 91324 from 10am–6pm.
If you or someone you know in the Valley could use a little help, please call Local 99’s Member Resource Center at 213.637.0296 to reserve your space. If you live outside the San Fernando Valley area, call our Member Resource Center to be referred to a pantry near you.
Volunteers Needed! We also need volunteers to help put bags of food together. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, November 22 in the San Fernando Valley Office. We have two shifts: 10 am – 2pm and 2pm – 6pm. To sign-up to volunteer, contact Nanette Rincon-Ksido at 213-387-8393 ext. 304 or nrinconksido@seiu99.org.
This event is hosted by SEIU Local 99’s Member Organizing Committee, Committee on Political Action, and Social, Economic and Global Justice Committee.
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