Outsourcing task force gears up

Members volunteer to help expose wasteful contracts, save jobs

A new task force created by the June side letter is beginning to focus on private vendor contracts that can be eliminated so that the cost savings can help preserve member pay and state jobs.

More than 100 member volunteers began investigating state contracts to support the work of the task force and Local 1000's anti-outsourcing campaign.

You don't need to face your boss alone

Union win guarantees stewards & reps access to disciplinary meetings

As a result of an unfair labor practice charge pursued by Local 1000 stewards at a prison in Tracy, the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR) has agreed to retrain managers and supervisors in the prison's case records unit.

Under the settlement agreement, the retraining will focus on guaranteeing the right of Local 1000 members to have a steward or union representative in any meeting that could lead to disciplinary action.

Nonprofits spend thousands on toilet paper every year - help us collect 125,000 rolls!


Local 1000 members and staff are collecting toilet paper donations that help nonprofit organizations in our community. Nonprofits spend thousands of dollars supplying families in need with toilet paper, and last year Local 1000 collected over 10,000 rolls to decrease that cost.

You can help the effort by collecting toilet paper rolls at home and in your worksite. If you do not have a collection bin at your worksite, you may drop off your donation at the Local 1000 Union Hall, 1325 S St, Sacramento, anytime before 3:30 p.m. on June 14.

If you would like a collection bin delivered to your worksite, please contact Melvin Stewart at mstewart@seiu1000.org or 831.236.2224.

For more information on the drive, please visit www.yourlocalunitedway.org/tp-drive.

If you would like a flier to pass out, click here for a PDF version.

After a week of contentious negotiations between Local 1000 and management, State Fund has announced that layoffs have been cancelled. 267 jobs were set to be cut at the end of May.

"We've told management all along that the cuts they wanted to make were too deep and would negatively impact the entire state," said Sophia Perkins, chair of Bargaining Unit 4. "Our message finally got through to them. Our lobbying efforts with State Fund Board members and legislators worked."

"They made some outrageous demands at the bargaining table, but we continued to push until we saved our members' jobs," said Brenda Modkins, chair of Bargaining Unit 1.

Local 1000 members at the Department of Mental Health (DMH) delivered nearly 1,000 signatures to Kathy Gaither, DMH Chief Deputy Director, demanding improved collaboration and communication as the department makes program and staff reductions.

"I'm highly concerned at the way DMH has kept its staff at arms-length throughout this process," said Kim Cowart, registered nurse and chair of Bargaining Unit 17. "DMH wants to make changes and slash the budget, but they won't be successful without the input of staff."

DMH wants to save $180 million in this budget year. In addition to the program and staff reductions, the department is making sweeping changes to its administration of care in state hospitals as it moves to create a new department.

Local 1000 action reverses DMV decision

State Fund management will delay the department's layoff date from April 30 to May 30

"Obviously we're happy that management has extended the layoff date," said Brenda Modkins, chair of bargaining unit 1. "It gives impacted employees more time to look for new employment."

Modkins says she's especially appreciative of the hundreds of Local 1000 members who signed petitions or contacted State Fund Board members, telling them that the layoffs are happening too fast and too deep.  

Local 1000 is working hard to mitigate the remaining layoffs, despite the department's continued refusal to use all of its vacancies to alleviate layoffs and end outsourcing contracts. New bargaining dates are scheduled for March 26 and 27th.

"This is a complex layoff situation," said Sophia Perkins, chair of bargaining unit 4. "The extension will allow Local 1000 to more carefully monitor State Fund's procedures and make sure the remaining layoffs are in full compliance with our agreement."

Last December, State Fund proposed to lay off 1500-1800 employees. More than 900 employees took a Local 1000 negotiated transition package - the first time in state service that such an option was provided.  Hard work has reduced the layoff numbers to 356.

Members organize to meet realignment challenges & plan for the future of corrections