Council backs Local 1000 Programs

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June 25, 2007

Council backs Local 1000 programs to protect job security,
expand representation and negotiate stronger contracts.
The 63 elected-member Local 1000 Council voted 62-1 for a three year budget supporting all programs in the union’s 21st Century Plan, including funding for the 2008 contract campaign and for the union’s strategic campaigns in major state departments.
 
“The vote underscores the union’s “common purpose,” said Local 1000 President Jim Hard. “The Council was nearly unanimous in our mission of building Local 1000 into the strongest union of California state employees, one that is dedicated to improving the standard of living for all workers and their families, and preserving state services.”

The Council acted after hearing full reports from Local 1000 committee members, members from each of Local 1000’s Strategic Campaign Task Forces and from Local 1000 officers, at its June 23-25 meeting in Sacramento.
 
“We’re fighting for Local 1000 members in every bargaining unit,” said Cathy Hackett, Local 1000 vice president and secretary-treasurer. “Without the dues increase and the programs we’ve recommended, and our General Council Delegates approved, we wouldn’t be able to deliver the services our members want and need or defend ourselves against attacks on our benefits and our job security.”
 
Council members also voted unanimously to devote “every resource necessary” to defend the union against rescission of Fair Share fees.”
 
“Rescinding Fair Share would create an environment that allows some state workers to get all the benefits that all of us now help fund,” said Marc Bautista, Local 1000 vice-president for organizing and representation.  “This attack on our union would cost millions of dollars each year and would severely limit our ability to defend ourselves against our political adversaries … Our job security, our wages and our benefits will be threatened and the growing strength of our union will be reversed.”
 
Council members voted to fully fund all of the union’s ongoing programs, including:
 
  • Member Representation: Nearly 2,000 members have already used the program which provides rapid and professional assistance when there are problems at the worksite or violations of the contract. Phase I was launched in April, with an investment of $1 million; another $1.7 million is being budgeted for 2008.

  • Strategic Departmental Campaigns: Campaigns in EDD, DMV, SCIF, and CDCR and in the Sacramento area are organizing members around major worksite issues and creating networks of union activists in the worksites. The union will add campaigns to organize and protect workers in Caltrans, DDSD, DMH, DDS, Vets Affairs and the state Lottery, and in major classifications such as compliance reps, auditors and IT positions. More than $6 million is being budgeted for these campaigns in 2008 and 2009.

  • Expanded steward leadership training and development: Funding for programs to train and support more stewards were increased from $75,000 in 2007 to $150,000 in 2008 and $230,000 in 2009.

  • 2008 Contract Campaign: Council members voted to create a $3.5 million fund to mount the largest contract campaign in Local 1000’s history. In addition, Council members voted to increase the union’s $1 million Strike and Defense fund by $1 million per year—in 2007, 2008 and 2009—in anticipation of campaigns aimed at reducing public employee pensions and at diminishing the strength of the union.
 
  • Expand Local 1000 research capacity: Nearly half a million dollars was added to increase research support for bargaining, and to continue Local 1000’s successful efforts to stop outsourcing of state jobs
 
  • Political Action Fund: In recognition of growing political threats to state workers and state services, Council members voted to make $1.5 million per year available to support of state election and proposition campaigns and for the 2008 presidential election.
 
A stronger communications program: Council members vote to expand funding for various communications campaigns, including advertisements, direct mail, earned media, and other communications vehicles.
 
“These resources are making it possible for us to reinvent our union from top to bottom,” said Yvonne Walker, Local 1000 vice president for bargaining.  “This Council made it clear that we must invest more if we are going to win better contracts, provide better representation, and protect our benefits and our job security.”