LiUNA! Membership turns out to Support SFRPD effort to capture responsible Revenue!

San Francisco City Hall: Today over 50 men & women from Laborers' Local 261 converged on the SF Board of Supervisors Budget & Finance Committee in order to assist the SF Recreation & Parks Department in its effort to persuade the Committee that a modest Non-Resident fee collection at the SF Botanical Gardens/Coit Tower was responsible. City Workers represented by LiUNA!, Local 261 are all too familiar with the need in these challenging economic times to pay more (or be paid less.) Having given back to the City big economically with additional Health care contributions, the introduction of "second tier" workers, and a severely reduced workweeks (all by a ratification vote of over 99%!) they know fees need to be reasonably raised upwards to simply keep pace. Please support this effort and let the SF Board of Supervisors know, Revenue moving forward is critical! Sister Theresa Foglio, and Brothers John Raulli and Vince Courtney addressed the Board's Committee on the issue. See meeting discussion here.

Newsom’s budget advisor: State cuts could hurt SF | San Francisco Examiner

Newsom’s budget advisor: State cuts could hurt SF | San Francisco Examiner

Rank & File Slam Dunk! 261 City Committee Team gets mandate vote: 398 YES, 12 NO, Alternative Ratified!

Brothers & Sisters:

Congratulations on negotiating and ratifying an acceptable alternative to the layoff/rehire scenario! Special thanks to the Chief Stewards and Department representatives who worked long hours to get the job done. From the Mayor's Office on down to the SF DHR, everyone worked toward this end. Keep in mind that it is critical to stay together and always move with one strong voice as we continue to confront challenges that are before us.

City Committee Negotiators and Local 261 Business Manager Ramon Hernandez finalize agreement with City!

This afternoon, the Local 261 City Committee and Business Manager Ramon Hernandez concluded months, weeks, days, and hours of negotiations with the City to come up with an alternative to the layoff/rehire scenario which would have resulted the vast majority of Union membership being reclassified as part-time workers at 37.5 hours a week to start. The 261 negotiators took part in many of the discussion with the PEC (central table) which was chaired by Bob Muscat and Tim Paulson. The 261 team also worked closely with the SF Building Trades Council and Larry Mazzola of UA 38. Most of the items agreed to in those sessions have been incorporated into the LiUNA! Local 261 agreement with the City.

The Local 261 Committee had a number of items that were specific to the bargaining unit, and as such had several sessions with the City to address those concerns as well. In the end, the team unanimously agreed that it had the best possible alternative agreement (see it on the right of this page,) to the layoff/rehire scenario available.

In addition to those named above, the Union greatly appreciates all of the work that City representatives Mary Hao, Ileana Samanc, Vitus Leung, have done for the City the past several months and all the others who were committed to the process and professionalism.

Finally, without Negotiators/City Committee members Adrian Field (Chair,) Nikki Mixon (Co-Chair, ) Terry McDevitt, Joan Vellutini, Dan Feerick, Edison Fincher, Zac Salem, Larry Montoya, Alex Alvarez, Jose De La Mora, Manuel Bustos, and Theresa Foglio we may have not had such a fair agreement for the membership to ratify tomorrow as an alternative to the layoffs.

Voting is at 10am Tuesday, April 27 (juice & 200 donuts,) City Committee meeting is at 12 (10 pizzas) and voting will close at 5pm (6 more pizzas at 2:00.) See you there, results at 6 on twitter.com/vincecourtney

LiUNA! Local 261 Today. City Committee members including Chairs Nikki Mixon and Terry McDevitt reached tentative agreements with the city this afternoon on significant economic items. Although the parties have not concluded all discussions related to an agreement which is likely to go until July 2013, the parties are very close to finalizing on items such as "seniority," "weather," "special" assignments," among other things.

"It has been a very long road for our team. Without committed members like the Brothers & Sisters we have at the table now, we have very little hope of convincing our public sector membership that the tentative agreement reflects the best effort any labor organization could make. I believe that the dedication of our City Committee negotiators is unmatched City-wide." Ramon Hernandez, LiUNA!, Local 261 Business Manager

The next session is set for City Hall on Monday 1-3pm. The Ratification Vote will be held at the Laborers' Union Hall the following day between 10-5pm. Election results to be announced via http://twitter.com/vincecourtney

City and Union meet to move closer. Next Negotiation set for April 23, 2010. Vote still set for 4/27!

Today, the City and the Local 261 Negotiations team met for several hours to discuss non-economic items as well as the actual mechanism for taking days off if the membership were to ratify the tentative agreement. Notices will go out next week and it is the Union's current position that employees treat them as real and act accordingly because there is always the possibility that he membership will not vote for the tentative agreement, so protect yourself by taking these notices seriously. This has been a terribly frustrating time for all involved. The Mayor has always said the the "part time" 37.5 hr/week was a proposal to close the budget gap and that it was up to the Union to come up with an alternative. Here, at Local 261 we have and we are almost ready to sign, seal, and deliver it to the membership. Adrian, Nikki, Joan, Terry, Theresa, Dan, Edison, Larry, Jose, Alex, Manny, and Zac have represented us well. We are on our way. If other Unions fail to ratify that will be their concern. In the end there will be no question that the Committee put forth the best effort to secure the best possible alternative to the "part time scenario." Keep posted!

Negotiations moved from Monday to Thursday at City Hall. New tentative vote date is 4/27. Leland Yee gets Rock Star Treatment!

The City negotiations have stalled with other bargaining units. The situation has made it necessary for the Monday session which was set for 2:30pm at City Hall to be moved to Thursday at 9:30am. Since we had hoped to move for a membership ratification vote on Thursday and we will be still at the bargaining table the same day, the new tentative ratification date for membership to vote on the alternative to the 37.5 "part time" work week is now April 27, 2010 at the Union Hall. Please do not be discouraged by the scheduling change as the parties are very close to an agreement especially as it relates to furlough days.

Also, earlier today State Senator Leland Yee, a friend of the Laborers for years, kicked off his Re-Election campaign in the Sunset District (pics.) Thank you Brothers Bruce Ricci & Dan Feerick, and Sister Theresa Foglio, the 261 E-Board and others for turning out for the event and precinct walk.

City and Local 261 back to table to wrap up this Thursday morning. Shooting for a VOTE April 15, 2010!

The Laborers' Local 261 City Committee negotiators will be back at the Table on Thursday morning for a scheduled 3 hour session with City Representatives. The goal is to finalize and tentatively agree to matters such as medically single employees and the City Plan, "lead" pay application, inclement weather, privatization models, departmental reorganizations/accountability, uniforms, seniority (shift bids,) supervisory opportunities, Horticultural standards through apprenticeship, Continuing Education, Camp Mather, and alternate work programs, among other things as well as to engage in a thoughtful discussion resolution surrounding the impact on the bargaining unit of 12 furlough days given the membership's overwhelming determination last negotiations that funding the retiree healthcare was a joint responsibility. It is our great hope that we will present the best possible tentative agreement for the members to ratify (as opposed to the "part time" layoff/rehire scenario,) that the members can adopt through a VOTE on April 15, 2010 at the Laborers' Union Hall! Remember to follow http://twitter.com/vincecourtneyfor updates and possible changes.

Mayor's Press Press Conference with the SFLC PEC Coalition. Tentative Ratification date for Local 261 on complete version of MOU set for 4/15!

We will be ready to vote against the "part time" 37.5 hour work week at the Union Hall on April 15, 2010, unless negotiations with the City on all matters are not yet completed. Keep checking back for details.

SFLC PEC reaches agreement with City on two year deal which, if ratified puts an end to the 37.5/part-time layoff/rehire.

Union Officials learned today that a press conference will take place to announce a deal reached between Public Employee Labor Unions and the City on a plan which would effectively undo the layoffs and rehire scenario for the foreseeable future. Early indications are that the Unions have been successful at counter proposing that employees be required to take furlough days (mandatory time off or, MTO) at a rate of 12 per year for the next two years. It is possible that in the second year of the deal, employees will take less than twelve depending on the budget situation. Also, changes were agreed to related to "medically single" employees and the healthcare plan. "We are delighted with the fact that it appears that we are well on our way to scheduling a ratification vote for members of Laborers' 261. There is still lots of work for us to do but we're confident we can resolve all issues which remain. I applaud the efforts made by our negotiating team as well as our rank & file. It is apparent to me that the Labor Coalition was able to stay on point and remain focused to the very end, they were committed from the onset to get where we are today." - Vince Courtney, Business Representative Laborers' Local 261
Over the next couple of weeks, Local 261's negotiations team will dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" in our own agreement before asking the members to show up and vote for this very important change!
News from Local 21, City Insider Chronicle, KTVU Channel 2, ABC Channel 7, SF Examiner, KCBS

Negotiations continue as workweek plan lingers | San Francisco Examiner

Negotiations continue as workweek plan lingers | San Francisco Examiner

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Laborers' Union PEC Team talks Contracting Out, Seniority, Expedited Arbitration, etc at City Hall this am. Votes out of PEC talks re: messaging.

City Hall Today: The 261 PEC negotiations committee met earlier today with city representatives to continue our discussions surrounding alternatives to the 37.5/”part time” work week. From the beginning the Mayor’s Office has consistently represented that the scenario was a “proposal” and that they were open to alternatives through the “process” whether by collectively bargaining or meeting and conferring to reach agreement. Many, many meetings have taken place since the layoff/rehire notices dropped. The Mayor’s office has on two occasions since then, granted moratoriums on letter distributions. The new date at which the scenario would actually take place is May 15, 2010. From the onset, including at the Laborers’ Union Hall last month when we all (SFBCTC, Mayor Newsom, the Laborers, and contractors and developers,) advocated for creating work opportunities for construction workers with Fee Deferral legislation for development, the Mayor invited us to “open” in order to come up with alternative…so, you did. With respect to the Laborers Union membership, the parties are closing in on a solution and preparing for a ratification vote. It should be noted that while we have been negotiating with the City individually as a result of our unique bargaining unit realities (alternate work programs, stimulus, apprenticeship, public outreach, volunteers, park advocacy groups, and public-private partnerships,) we have participated in discussions at the so-called “big table” ie. SFLC PEC coalition. Most recently, at that table counter-proposals have been hard to come by as a result of the as of yet determined SEIU input. In the meantime, it has been necessary for the participants (other Unions,) to engage in direct (public) messaging to their own membership which at times has been inconsistent with our own. Unfortunately, this resulted in our own team’s decision this morning to unanimously move away from these discussions while continuing our own as well as discussions at the SFBCTC table where Larry Mazzola of the UA has represented our joint interests well. "I'll tell you this, if we don't get a handle on messaging quickly, we'll take more steps backwards in the public eye. WE have been honest and the Mayor's office has been with us too. I am proud of our team and of our progress...WE will get this thing done!"
- Vince Courtney Laborers' Union Representative
(pictured: Mayor Newsom and L261 Business Manager Ramon Hernandez talk alternatives at the Laborers' Union Hall,) Keep checking in to be informed as we work towards "GETTING IT DONE!"

City Insider : Another reprieve for pink-slipped city workers

City Insider : Another reprieve for pink-slipped city workers
Lots to still do with little time to get it done. After knocking off after 10pm following our session at City Hall last nite, the Local 261 negotiators were back at the SFLC PEC table past five o'clock today as well. Special thanks to Adrian, Theresa, and Nikki for representing! At the PEC meeting today, the the Unions were joined by the Mayor's Chief of Staff, the Director of DHR, and the head of the Employee Relations Division. Bob Muscat (IFPTE 21,) Tim Paulson (SFLC,) and Larry Mazzola (UA-38,) chaired the long sessions as the parties discussed in detail many of the outstanding issues related to finance, revenue, and layoffs.
Local 261 PEC negotiators will meet with the City all next week to try to come up with a tentative agreement so that the membership can vote on it. We meet Monday with the PEC and CCSF in the afternoon, on Tuesday morning with the Building Trades/CCSF, on Wednesday with the City and PEC, and again on Thursday. It is our hope that we will have something for the membership to ratify by the end of the week that "lifts" the layoff/rehire part-time status scenario. We may call for a vote soon, so stay posted. Keep in mind that Departments still have cuts. Keep following on the Twitter for real time updates!

City and Union inch closer to agreement on alternative to "Part Time" workforce. Scheduled to meet again Thursday in the am.

SF City Hall, tonite:

The LiUNA! Local 261 negotiations team met with City representatives, this evening at City Hall to go over the Union's proposals related to the current 37.5 hour work week proposal. Joined by the Mayor's Chief of Staff as well as the Director of the SF Department of Human Resources, team members are optimistic about the potential for an agreement on an alternative to the part-time plan currently underway. The parties agreed to meet again on Thursday morning. Team members will also be meeting again with the Labor coalition and the city representatives tomorrow afternoon because it is likely that such economic agreements/solutions will be reached City-wide, while unit specific details are worked our accordingly.

City Committee Negotiators Back to the Bargaining Table at City Hall this Thursday Night!

Today, following the Rally for Jobs at City Hall, we met with the San Francisco Labor Council Public Employee Coalition at IFPTE, Local 21. Mike Thieriault of the SF Building Trades, Tim Paulson of the SF Labor Council, Mayor Newsom's Chief of Staff, Steve Kawa, DHR Chief Micki Callahan, and ERD Director Martin Gran were just a few of those in attendance.

Many Public Sector Union representatives were present if not most. There were lengthy discussions related to the fiscal picture as well as talks surrounding topics such as staffing, accountability and efficiency. The parties will continue to talk and Local 261 will continue to be involved in all discussions. Meanwhile, our negotiations committee has committed to forward progress on alternatives to the 37.5/hr work week.

To all of you who showed up at City Hall today, it was an absolutely perfect effort. The message was heard and the Laborers' Union was certainly recognized by all.

Laborers Union Members Rally for Board support for Jobs!

Public employee unions in Whitman's crosshairs

Public employee unions in Whitman's crosshairs

Local 261 Negotiations Team, Ramon Hernandez, and Tim Paulson of the SF Labor Council meet to move forward!

City Hall: Friday March 12, 2010

On the same day Mayor Newsom officially declared his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor, the Union and the City met for over two hours to discuss the current "proposal" which has taken on a life of its own in recent weeks. LiUNA! Local 261 Business Manager Ramon Hernandez, and Executive Director of the SF Labor Council Tim Paulson also joined us. Throughout this process the Mayor's Office has consistently maintained that the layoff/rehire (37.5 hour "part time" work week,) was the current proposal and that he invited Labor to engage him in the "process" of coming up with alternatives to address the massive (522 million dollar budget shortfall.) By an overwhelming majority of membership vote, the MOU (which expired on June 30, 2011,) was opened so that the Union would have an opportunity to "counter" the 37.5 hour work week plan. All workers who weighed in had hoped for an alternative that would result in Mandatory Time Off (MTO or furlough days.)

Although an actual agreement is far from being reached, the Parties are very, very, close.

"At this point, it appears to me that the Mayor has kept his promise to listen to the Unions who truly desire to work together to come up with an alternative to the layoff/rehire scenario in order to avoid all of the unnecessary (and unintended,) consequences while honestly addressing the Budget reality. We are very, very close."

- Vince Courtney, Labor Rep. LiUNA! Local 261

On Thursday afternoon, Local 261 Representatives Adrian Field and Deshelia Mixon met with the Labor coalition as the group highlighted topics for discussion with the Mayor throughout this process. SFLC Executive Director Tim Paulson and a handful of Labor Representatives also met with the Mayor to move toward common ground the same day.

"The numbers appear to be real. As an alternative, the City is looking for valuable Labor Concessions (roughly 6.25% for the fiscal year.) While still painful, if we can deal with these issues on a year to year basis, whether that be a 1, 2, or three year deal it would be much better for the membership and City moving forward...nobody wants to be "part time."

- Adrian Field, LiUNA!, Local 261 PEC Chair

Because the Local 261 MOU is officially open, the Committee also addressed;

RFPs at RPD, OLSE appeals, "Bargaining Unit Work" the Supe II, Horticulture Apprenticeship, The Education Fund, Seniority, Retiree Health, Camp Mather, Lead Worker, Stimulus Workers, and Ballot initiatives and various revenue ideas.

The Parties meet again next Thursday afternoon.

LiUNA! Local 261 Chief Stewards attend coalition meeting today. 261 Negotiations team at City Hall tomorrow.

Click here for information from DHR and FAQ on the letter/survey re: SFUSD

Additionally, DHR's Workforce Development has scheduled "I Received a Layoff Notice, What Happens Now?" workshops for interested employees to attend. The following are the current available locations/date/times:

LIBRARY - March 16 @ 4:30PM - Koret Auditorium
HALL OF JUSTICE - March 15 @10AM, 1PM or 3PM AND March 17 @ 8:30AM or
10:30AM - 350 Bryant 7th floor Auditorium
DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH - March 16 @ 8AM - Laguna Honda Hospital A300 AND
March 16 @ 2PM - San Francisco General Hospital Carr Auditorium AND
March 18 @ 8:30AM or 10:30AM - 101 Grove Room 300
DEPT OF TECHNOLOGY - March 16 @ 10AM - One SVN 2nd floor Atrium

NOTE - dates/times/locations may be added or changed, so please verify by checking the DHR layoff website at www.sfgov.org/layoffs.

Thousands Of SF Heath Workers Get Pink Slips; Most To Be Rehired - News Story - KTVU San Francisco

More news: Thousands Of SF Heath Workers Get Pink Slips; Most To Be Rehired - News Story - KTVU San Francisco
With an agreement to the reopening, we continue to work very hard with the Department of Human Resources and the Administration to come up with alternative solutions to the current proposal. We will need all the help we can get! Next Monday at 11:30am, we rally at City Hall to help persuade the SF Board of Supervisors to defer development fees and fast track construction to jump start the local economy and put the Laborers and Building Trades back to work! We will be there because we know its all connected when it comes to needed revenue!

Also, today, the Mayor introduced a new financial tool with members of Local 261, non-profits, and the Business Community (visit www.hellowallet.com and twitter.com/hellowallet)

Part time position savings by Department
Jobs exempted from layoffs