Dear SEIU Local 99 Member,
Welcome Back to School!
It’s that time again…time to greet students for another academic year! And we have some HUGE opportunities this year to make a difference in student success and in our jobs.
November Election
These past few years, we’ve started to turn a corner with our schools, centers and community colleges. The devastating education budget cuts stopped. We restored some jobs and hours, bringing improvements to student services.
| But just as we are beginning to make some progress, the temporary income tax rate on the richest Californians is due to expire in 2018. That will mean $4 billion in cuts every year to California’s education funding. |
That’s why SEIU Local 99 members will be urging voters to support Proposition 55 this November. Proposition 55 will continue to bring funding to education. Without Prop. 55, we risk going back to the days of lunch lines so long that kids don’t have time to eat, overcrowded classrooms, disappearing arts and music programs, tuition hikes and other cuts to student services. Click here to earn more about Prop. 55.
No going back to cuts and furloughs!
Let’s keep cuts to student services a thing of the past.Sign up to be a part of SEIU Local 99’s “Yes on 55” efforts to reach out to voters! Click here to sign up today. |
Let’s keep cuts to student services a thing of the past. Sign up today to join your co-workers in SEIU Local 99’s “Yes on 55” efforts to reach out to voters by phone and neighborhood walks!
Here are two important dates to join us! Click here to RSVP today!
- Saturday, September 10th — “YES ON 55!” KICKOFF
- Tuesday, November 8th — Take a Vacation Day and help us “Get out the Vote” on Election Day
Our Contracts
As this academic year begins, so do our conversations together about what we want to see in our next Union contracts with our employers. Many SEIU Local 99 members’ contract negotiations will begin during this 2016/2017 year. The first step is to make sure we pass Proposition 55 so that our schools, centers and colleges have the funds to fully support the important student services that we provide. This is a critical time for SEIU Local 99 members.
Our Strength
…lies in our unity and our commitment to work together collectively. This is how we resolve workplace issues, improve student services and fight to make sure school jobs are good jobs that allow us to support ourselves and our families.
The first line of defense in this work is our Stewards. This year, we will continue to focus on our Steward Councils so that management understands member leaders at our worksites are the first line of defense against any violations of our contract. Our next Steward Training is scheduled for October 1st. (If you’re interested in being a worksite steward, click here to learn more, including information on collecting signatures to be nominated.)
One important thing you can do now to make sure we continue to improve our jobs is make sure you are a full SEIU Local 99 Member. Some of us may see “Agency Fee Payer” on our paychecks. That also means you’re not a full member. Our numbers are our strength when we go to our employers to fight for anything, so make sure you are a full and active member. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.
Once again, have a great academic year. And remember that our contracts include many job protections. But these contracts are only strong if we all know and enforce what’s in them. If you have any questions about your job or believe our contract is being violated, contact your Steward or complete our online Inquiry Form.
Let’s continue to stand together—for our jobs, our students and our communities.
In Solidarity,
| Barbara Torres, Special Education Assistant & President, SEIU Local 99 |
Max Arias, Executive Director, SEIU Local 99 |
