SEIU Local 221 Crafts For Choice

On Wednesday July 23rd, 2008 a Proof of Service declaration was served to SEIU Local 221 and also to the County of San Diego. The declaration states that the Craft bargaining unit employees desire a vote to rescind the existing Agency Shop provision.

The Craft bargaining group filed with PERB proof of support that conforms to the requirements for filing the rescission vote request.

If you agree with SEIU Politics, with SEIU financial expenditures and the quality of member services you are getting, etc. etc…keep your membership…join or rejoin but do it by CHOICE.

Please allow members, who disagree with SEIU policies, to fully opt out of membership and dues payment.

Signatures from 30% of the bargaining unit will cause the PERB to hold a “Fair Share Fee Rescission Election”

Under provisional status, Local 221 has temporary bylaws and a temporary constitution. This governing structure was not ratified by the rank and file membership; the International put it in place.

The Crafts Bargaining unit lost its representation on the E-Board under reorganization in March 2007.

At least 75% of Local 221’s union members are county workers with minimal representation on the E-Board.

The E-Board approves/disapproves union spending proposals and other important business decisions.

Even Full Members have lost their right to vote for the office of President of Local 221 under provisional status imposed by the International in 2007.

Provisional status could continue until 2010. Only until a new constitution and bylaws are ratified by the membership can an election for president be held.

Many CR members say that CR member services have declined significantly since the implementation of Agency Shop.

When did a union Rep last visit your worksite to talk to you about labor issues or even post a flyer?

By June 30, 2008, about 100 crafts bargaining unit members opted to become agency fee payers, then, and only then did some worksites begin to have visits from worksite organizers.

The Labor Management Committee for the Crafts Bargaining Unit has had great difficulty resolving issues with Local 221 administrators. That’s why the entire Labor Management Committee endorses holding an Agency Shop Election in hopes that greater choice to become members can affect better representation.

Many CR members feel that they had better representation before Agency Shop was implemented.