We represent 600 City of Palo Alto workers.
Officers
Chair- Brian Ward
Vice Chair- Margaret Adkins
Secretary- Joel Dino
Chief Steward- Vic Farisato
Worksite Organizer
Nick Raisch
Stewards are listed in the purple column on the right, below the "Stewards" tab.
Meetings
- Chapter Council Meetings:
4th Tuesday of every month, 5:30 PM at the Arts Center
- Monthly Steward Council Meetings:
On the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road.
All members are welcome.
RSVP to Kelly at (650) 801-3529.
- SEIU Community Volunteers
. Inn Vision Clothing Drive: Sept.–Oct.
. Community Garden: Clean up day scheduled for Sat., Oct. 16, 9:30 AM
. Second Harvest Food Drive scheduled for Nov.–Dec.
If you would like to be a barrel monitor or volunteer please contact SEIU Local 521, Executive Board Delegate, Lynn Krug at 650-566-4555.
- Additional events are listed under the Events tab in the purple column on the right.
Union News
Newsletter: Palo Alto Chapter Channel
August 2010
In this issue:
- MOA on the way
"This has been a long and hard road. Many of us are relieved to have a contract, but we all know there is much more work to be done."
-- Margaret Adkins, Chapter Vice Chair
- SEIU Executive Board Delegate (Alternate)
- New hourly contract
- Re-class season (September 10-October 10)
- What do you want for your next contract?
By Brian Ward, Chapter Chair
- SEIU Representative: Nick Raisch, Worksite Organizer
- Open Seat: SEIU Local 521 First Vice-President
- and more...
May 2010
February 2010
December 2009
November, 2009
September 2009
Hundreds of Workers Take Self-Imposed Furlough Day
Click on the link to see video and photos.
Archive:
July 2009
June 22, 2009
June 15, 2009
April 2009
February 2009
December 2008
November 2008
June 2008
March 2008
In the News
[Palo Alto] City workers accept benefit cuts in Palo Alto
SEIU pledges more collaboration with city, ratifies terms that were previously imposed
Palo Alto Online, June 29
OurPaloAlto.com
Palo Alto Workers Welcome New City Council
Jan. 11 - Call for Objective Organizational Performance Review
In the interest of collaboration, about 30 Palo Alto City workers welcomed the new city council.
Watch video | Visit OurPaloAlto.com
In the News:
- Palo Alto sees more tough union talks ahead
San Jose Mercury News, Jan. 9, 2009
- Palo Alto union questions $4.8 million mistake fix
San Jose Mercury News, Dec. 23, 2009
Palo Alto Workers Support New Direction for Palo Alto 
Nov. 18 - About 40 workers and supporters converged in front of Palo Alto City Councilmember Larry Klein's office to support a new direction for Palo Alto.
Workers held an informational picket in front of Klein's office at Dorsey and Whitney LLP and held up signs that said "Restore Public Trust" and "New Council, New Direction."
» Read more
It's Time for a New Direction
City workers provide valuable services to our community.
Last month, much like the tree-chopping debacle on California Avenue, the city AGAIN made unilateral decisions - this time against working families, which could ultimately affect our valuable services.
The City Council has rejected mediation, acted unilaterally and imposed their own terms.
For more details, read this flyer:
New Direction
Last, best and final offer vote
Palo Alto Workers Reject Imposed Contract
Will continue to provide quality services
Palo Alto, CA - One day after the City of Palo Alto voted to unilaterally impose a contract on workers, 90% of members who voted Tuesday night rejected the city's last, best and final offer.
Read the press release, Oct. 27 »
Palo Alto Rejects Mediation, Imposes Contract
"It's not a democratic process."
Palo Alto, CA - No longer willing to negotiate with workers, the City of Palo Alto on Monday voted to unilaterally force a contract on its workers.
Read the press release, Oct. 27 »
For more information:
Palo Alto Chapter Fact Sheet
PaloAltoIsFallingShort.com
Palo Alto Workers in the News
Palo Alto Negotiations Timeline 2009
May 4 – bargaining begins
Aug. 27 – Workers vote to authorize a strike
Sept. 24 – Workers hold a self-imposed furlough day to save the city money
Oct. 20 – City declares impasse in negotiations
Oct. 22 – City rejects workers' offer of mediation
Oct. 26 – City Council unilaterally imposes contract terms on workers
Oct. 27 - Workers reject imposed contract
Palo Alto Refuses Mediation with WorkersPalo Alto, CA - In the latest turn in negotiations, the City of Palo Alto on Thursday, Oct. 22, rejected the workers' offer of using mediation to resolve an impasse.
Read the press release, Oct. 22 »
- Palo Alto may impose new SEIU contract tonight
After stalled negotiations, staff asks City Council to 'unilaterally implement' contract changes
Palo Alto Online, Oct. 26, 2009
- City of Palo Alto Declares Contract Impasse with Workers
KCBS, Oct. 24, 2009
Audio Report
Palo Alto Employees Call for City Transparency
September 10 - With bottles of Windex and paper towels in hand, Palo Alto city employees stopped working at 12:55 p.m. and started cleaning the dusty windows of Palo Alto City Hall. The city has up to $22 million stashed away in off-book accounts...
See
www.paloaltoisfallingshort.com for the research data. Blog now to support your fellow workers!
» Watch video
Palo Alto Workers Authorize a Strike by 95 percent margin
"The city is acting on Bush administration fear tactics to make healthcare unaffordable for working families."
PALO ALTO, CA - Under pressure from economic fear-tactics, Palo Alto workers on Thursday voted to strike if city leaders continue on their path...
Read the press release 8/28/2009 »
Is Palo Alto Falling Short?
On Tuesday, 8/18, the City of Palo Alto hosts an open house for the community to test-drive a new "See-It" Website, intended to bring transparency and accountability to government. Come to www.PaloAltoIsFallingShort.com to see critical details the city is leaving out. Support your fellow SEIU Local 521 members working in Palo Alto!
» Read more
In the media:
- City lays out goals on Web; union retaliates with site
Source: The Daily News, August 19, 2009
BY DIANA SAMUELS, Daily News Staff Writer
As Palo Alto showed off a new feature on its Web site Tuesday, the city's service worker union saw an opportunity f...
Click here to read this news article
- Palo Alto, employees union face off on Web as city launches new site
Source: San Jose Mercury News, August 19, 2009
http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_13156701
Bargaining Update
City still proposing unnecessary cuts:
Affluent Palo Alto can maintain services without drastic cuts, and we are willing to compromise a fair contract, but the city refuses to move.
For more information, click on the link below:
Negotiations Update, 08/06/2009
What does this mean to us?
- About 5 weeks pay cut in the first year.
- Permanent cuts to medical and retirement and less take-home pay.
- The summary of cuts places us at almost 10 percent below median for our current compensation package.
Palo Alto Workers Tell City Council: Drastic Cuts not Necessary
August 3 - About 100 members filled the Palo Alto City Hall chambers on Monday. Our message to the city council: Proposed drastic and unfair cuts are unnecessary and beginning to lower worker morale.
» View photos and video
March against Permanent Cuts June 29 - As negotiations escalate, about 100 Palo Alto city workers and community supporters marched in front of city hall on Monday to send the message to management: Permanent cuts are not a solution.
» View photos and video
Negotiations Update
June 22, 2009
In this issue:
The City has shown some movement at our last meeting. They proposed a 3% salary
reduction and tuition reimbursement wording. However, We do not see why we need to give up benefits that we have paid for one way or another over the years.
Palo Alto Workers Unite to Call for Pay Equity
June 8 − Nearly 300 Palo Alto City workers and their families packed the City Hall chamber Monday night to speak against permanent take-aways that target only the SEIU Bargaining Unit. "We want to do fair business. And we want equity," said Utilities Worker and Chapter Chair Lynn Krug.
Read more
SEIU Community Volunteers
Encouraging Employee Participation for City of Palo Alto Community Programs:
· Farmers Market Participation
· Senior Games Volunteers
· Let's Go Palo Alto - Physical fitness challenge
· Emergency Preparedness - Palo Alto Neighborhoods
· Palo Alto City Wide Garage Sale - June 6
Collections for Non Profits:
· Inn Vision 09: 700+ Gallons of items collected!
· 2nd Harvest 08-09: Surpassed our quotas!
· Africa Libraries 09: Contributed 100 kid's books
Participation in Green City Events:
· Earth Day 09: SEIU booth for demonstrating using recycled plant materials, collected for Inn Vision & distributed Sr. Games information
Palo Alto 2009 Negotiations Team
Lynn Krug (Chapter Chair)
Michael Keate (Chief Steward)
Lisa Myers
Brian Ward
Eli Sarumalani
Mary Sekator
Lydia Wallace-Pounds
Eric Talley
Alicia Spotwood
Janice Hall
Greg Schultz
Margaret Quillman
Alternates:
Judy Silva
Ron Long
Steve Giovannetti
Member Engagement
In an effort to create a Union for all our members SEIU conducted a survey to assess the areas where we needed to improve. It was clear from the survey responses that workers in Palo Alto want a stronger Union with better communication.
In an effort to address our members' concerns, we have developed a team approach to the solutions. This will be essential for negotiations and for the continued growth and strength of your Union.
Negotiations Team
Research
Politics
Contract Action Team (C.A.T.)
Communications/Community
Chapter Council
For more information, click here (page 2).
City of Palo Alto Official Website