LiUNA!, Local 261 City Committee and Union members' Negotiations Sessions Underway.

Today, the Union's Chief Stewards and Adrian Field moved deliberately through negotiations with representatives of every City Department that Local 261 has members. Ground Rules have been set and the Union and City will work towards jointly "charting" our progress and most importantly our intent.

Following the session members and other Committee Members converged on the Union Hall in the Mission District to discuss budget shortfalls, layoffs, civil service exams, the need for written contract proposals (proposals must be submitted by Union/City no later than 3/13,) Lobbying Policy, and other things.

MEMBERSHIP CALL: MARCH 24, 2009 at the Board of Supervisors Meeting 2nd Floor City Hall SF Supervisor Alioto will Honor Field, Foglio, McDevitt, Fincher, Mixon, and Vellutini. An honor for one is an honor for all! Come out to support and show your influence and solidarity! Wear Orange!

The Agenda:
Meeting AGENDA
Call to Order – Adrian Field – Chair 12:00 pm
MOU issues/Proposal Discussion/Report
City Committee Lobbying Policy
City Committee Department Lines Policy
Health Service Board election – possible endorsement
Arbitration Update
Bid Update
DHR Representative (tentative) re: 2009/2010 budget
New Business: Brothers Jackson and Seefeld
Old Business
Announcements – March 24, 2009 Board of Supervisors Meeting
Adjournment

DIRE Economic Picture has City Asking Laborers' Union Members for $$$!

Brothers & Sisters:

The attached came in this morning. I will ask that the SFDHR send a representative to your next meeting on February 25. I will keep you posted!
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Labor Colleagues:

The City is facing an unprecedented $576 million projected shortfall to its General Fund for fiscal year 2009-2010. The necessary cuts to balance this shortfall will be incredibly difficult for City workers and for the residents of San Francisco who rely on critical City services.

In addition to two previous rounds of layoffs in recent months, the City will issue layoff notices on February 27, 2009, with a layoff effective date of May 1, 2009.

As you know, in light of these dire budgetary conditions, we are asking that all labor unions give up their December 2008 or April 2009 wage increases. We are asking all unions to forgo these raises, to keep the paychecks they had as of December 1, 2008, so that the City can reduce the number of anticipated layoffs. The request is to remain at or return to the December 1, 2008 level as soon as possible, but not later than June 30, 2009. This request is being made of all unions, regardless of whether the current MOU expires on June 30, 2009 or thereafter. The City is already in discussions with some labor groups.

Please contact me or our Bargaining Coordinator, Linda Papin, to schedule a meeting to discuss your union’s response to this request. Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,


Martin R. Gran
Director, Employee Relations Division
Department of Human Resources