Workers Seek Respect, Racial Equity, and a Voice on the Job to Advocate for Needs of Santa Clara County Families
Santa Clara County, CA – This week, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County workers joined the growing wave of working people across the state and country who see the power of coming together in a union, by officially filing their intent to join SEIU Local 521 with the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). The filing comes after months of organizing from FIRST 5 Santa Clara County workers to address long-standing abuses of power that have led to unstable working conditions, including a lack of organizational transparency, discriminatory hiring and promotional practices and an absence of accountability.
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County workers believe deeply in the promise of FIRST 5 Santa Clara County to deliver high quality programs and services to the community. Precisely, they are joining to form part of the SEIU Local 521 to ensure equal voice, strong representation, and a seat at the table of decision-making. Their work requires an environment that fosters genuine dialogue, transparency, and inclusivity.
FIRST 5 workers are committed to forming a union that not only brings transparency, stability, and racial equity for staff internally, but that also enhances FIRST 5’s efforts in their community-centered work. It is because of their commitment to young children and their communities in Santa Clara County that FIRST 5 workers seek to bring a greater emphasis on racial equity in their work. Through their union, their focus is also to address the racial disparities that most severely impact children and families from low-income, immigrant and Black, African/African Ancestry, Indigenous, and communities of color. FIRST 5 staff believe we as a society must dismantle the root causes of racism and show up in our work in an inclusive way that uplifts our community members most impacted by racism and other inequities throughout Santa Clara County.
“We are eager to create opportunities to uplift the expertise of the staff and, most importantly, the voice of the community,” said Eula Idemoto, a FIRST 5 Assistant Director and member of the SEIU Local 521 Organizing Committee. “The structures and protections that are provided by forming a union allow us to focus on our work, without fear of job loss, retaliation, or unfair treatment when we speak up about our concerns. It creates a more balanced power dynamic at FIRST 5 that gives staff actionable tools to address grievances rather than having to accept being acted upon by senior management. Our turnover rate says it all – we have lost so much amazing talent due to the maltreatment that has become commonplace. Coming together to form a union is a natural progression of weeks, months, and years of efforts to advocate for transparency, accountability, and community centered practice. Despite our attempts to share our truths with management, there are persistent issues of cronyism, entitlement, and white privilege pervasive at the highest levels of the organization that have signaled to the staff that change will not happen unless we take action. We are hopeful that this process will invite FIRST 5 management to the table to unearth and address these issues in good faith, for the betterment of the staff and, ultimately, the communities we serve.”
“I believe that our union will move FIRST 5 from well-spoken words to authentic action when it comes to racial equity here in Santa Clara County, especially when we think about the racism experienced by Black, African/African Ancestry & Brown community members, among many other communities of color, said Buckley Bloom, a FIRST 5 Program Officer and SEIU Local 521 Organizing Committee member. “FIRST 5 must put organizational support & resources towards sustainable & long-term racial equity work- that’s the only way we will dismantle racism in our workplace and beyond. We must listen to staff, and to the community- they have shown us the path forward around racial equity, and we must shift & grow if we want to remain an important, well-respected, partner in the community.”
“As the employee with the longest tenure at FIRST 5, and as a woman of color, I have witnessed and faced the challenges, and paid the consequences of discrimination and retaliation from Senior Management staff, said Evelyn Lissete O’Marah, FIRST 5 Coordinator. “Throughout the years, I learned to stay focused on what I could control in order to keep my job and protect my daughter’s future. This environment allowed FIRST 5 to lose many amazing and talented individuals who were passionate about our work in the community. I decided to join SEIU Local 521 because I believe in equal and fair access to opportunities, a healthy and respectful work environment, while we, and an organization, continue to serve Santa Clara County communities, especially the children and their families.”
Upon filing for affirmation and certification by the California State Public Employment Relations Board, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County workers will officially join SEIU Local 521 and hope to begin the official collective bargaining process.
See additional worker pictures and quotes here.
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Service Employees International Union, Local 521 represents 53,000+ public- and nonprofit, private-sector workers in California’s Central Valley and in the central Bay Area region. Under a Community First vision, we are committed to making sure the needs of our community, and the vital services we provide our community, come first. We believe our communities thrive when residents, leaders and workers recognize that we are all in this together when it comes to our safety, health, and well-being.
