We Fight, We Win! 3pm Sharp, Senator Leland Yee Kicksoff. After the Precinct Walk, Aaron Peskin and Tim Paulson join us for the L261 Solidarity BBQ!

City Gardeners Will Fight!

info on B (thanks Norm)

Time is Running Out! Election day is around the corner. Call (800) 345-8683!

Brothers & Sisters:
Things are really heating up and Ramon & I wanted to hit you with this message to maximize participation because our future depends on it. We are under attack so please work hard to attend or participate in the following and forward this message-
September 20 11:30 Mon
County Fair Building (9th ave in GGP)
RPD Rank & File informational meeting. Mandatory for anyone who does not want to lose money.
September 20 2:00 Mon
DPW Trailers
DPW Rank & File informational meeting. Mandatory for anyone who does not want to lose money.
September 25 10am Sat
291 Connecticut (Potrero Hill)
Turnout only in ORANGE. Steve Moss kickoff/make a difference!
October 1 3:00pm Fri
Precinct walk (easy) against Adachi/Whitman followed by solidarity BBQ at 6.
October 30 10am Sat
Precinct walk (easy) against Adachi/Whitman followed by solidarity BBQ at 3.
November 2 Tues
All Day (Union advocates for membership-wide furlough day to GOTV) "posting up" with voter information at the polls.

All CRITICAL IN SF:
Janet Reilly - Dist #2
http://janetreilly.com/
Carmen Chu - Dist #4
http://www.carmenchu2010.com/
Debra Walker - Dist #6
http://www.votedebrawalker.com/
Rafael Mandelman - Dist #8
http://rafael2010.com/
Steve Moss - Dist #10
http://www.mossfordistrict10.com/

No on B (Adachi attacks our families)
http://www.nobadmedicine.com/

State Stuff:
Http://www.ncdc-laborers.org/vote

SF Port membership-

PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO
Maintenance Division Directive 10-01
 
DATE:​August 31, 2010
 TO:​All Maintenance Staff
 FROM:​Tom Carter, Deputy Director, Port Maintenance Division
 SUBJECT:​New Sign In/Out Procedure, Work Schedules, and Requests for Time Off
 
Due to the high volume of complaints from staff, supervisors, management, the Executive Director, the Department of Human Resources, and the unions around timekeeping abuses including but not limited to: tardiness/leaving early, absences without authorized leave, non-adherence to work schedules and overtime inequities it has become necessary to remind all Maintenance Staff to comply with and adhere to Port established policies, procedures and protocols; and to also enforce compliance with the Port policies and procedures around these issues.
 
Please find included in this memo, excerpts from the Port of San Francisco’s Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual, Section 7 – Work Hours and Authorized Absences.
 
It is recommended that employees read the policies contained in this section in their entirety in order to re-familiarize themselves with Port Policy.  Additionally, this directive serves to introduce a new procedure for recording time in/out from work each day.
 
Effective September 7, 2010, all Maintenance Division employees are required to sign-in and sign-out of work daily.  Supervisors are required to be present at the start and end of the work-shift to verify arrival and departure times of each employee.
 
When employees arrive at their shop at the beginning of each work-shift they must sign-in on the Shop ‘Sign In/Out Sheet’.  Each employee shall print and sign their name, record the date, and record the time-in, (in the order of arrival) for the workday.  The Supervisor is responsible for verifying the employee’s time-in entry on the ‘Sign In/Out Sheet’ by initialing the time-in.
 
When employees are prepared to leave work at the end of their work-shift they must sign-out on the Shop ‘Sign In/Out Sheet’.  Each employee shall print and sign their name, record the date, and record the time-out, (in the order of departure) for the workday. The Supervisor is responsible for verifying the employee’s time-out on the ‘Shop Sign In/Out Sheet’ at the end of the workday by initialing the time out.
 
Supervisors are required to initial each employee’s time-entry/ies at the beginning and end of the day as verification that the information is accurate.
 
Employees that report to work after the scheduled start time and/or leave work prior to the scheduled end time will be subject to being docked (receiving no pay for the time absent.)  Each employee is responsible and accountable for signing in/out for his/herself only. Employees that falsify their own time entry; or record time or sign-in/out for another employee; or are absent from work without authorized leave may be subject to progressive disciplinary action up to and including termination.
 
Normal Work Schedules - Most schedules consist of 8 hours work per day within 8 1/2 to 9 hours; 40 hours work per week.  Employees in the Maintenance Department generally work from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, or 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with one unpaid half-hour for lunch.  These schedules may vary depending on the operational needs of the Port and when employees have requested and received approval for alternative work schedules.
 
Employees are expected to sign-in at their assigned work site; prepared to commence work at the scheduled start time; and to remain on the job except when they have permission from their Supervisor/Manager to be absent.  Employees must also be prompt in returning from lunch and/or coffee breaks which are limited to the time allotted.
 
All employees must be scheduled for a minimum of one half-hour to a maximum of one hour lunch break at or near the middle of each work day.  Employees may not skip the lunch break as part of an alternate work schedule.
 
Sick Leave/Absence - Employees who are unable to report for work on a given day due to illness or other reasons must contact their Supervisor as soon as they know they will be absent, but no later than 15 minutes after their scheduled time to start work.  Unless the employee and supervisor know that the employee will be off for a pre-stated period of time, the employee must contact his/her Supervisor no later than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time on each day of absence.
 
An employee who knows in advance that he/she will be absent from work for one to five continuous work days should request approval from her/his supervisor at least one week in advance.  Absences that require the use of sick leave in excess of five continuous work days must be referred to Human Resources.
 
Requests for Time Off - Employees requesting furlough, vacation, floating holidays, and compensatory time-off must submit the Request for Time-Off form to their Supervisor for approval at least one week (5 consecutive work days) in advance of the requested time off.  Submission of the request form by the employee and receipt of the request by the Supervisor do not constitute approval.
 
New Procedure - All Requests for Time-Off forms must first be submitted to the Office of the Maintenance Division Deputy Director prior to Supervisor or Manager approval.  Once received, the request will be date and time stamped and subsequently forwarded to the Supervisor/Manager for approval.  Supervisors and Managers are advised to turn-around the approved/refused time off request form within one day of receipt from Deputy Director’s office and no later than 3 business days prior to the scheduled absence.  All absences and time off requests will be noted on the sign-in/out sheet for the day scheduled and will be reconciled by management.  Any discrepancies found may subject the employee to progressive disciplinary action up to and including termination.
 
 
cc: ​M. Moyer
​L. Holmes-Williams
Maintenance Division Staff

This Wednesday @12:00 at the Laborers' Local Union Hall 3271 18th Street at Shotwell.

Congratulations to all the recipients of the Gardener of the Month Awards. Thank You to our Sponsors!

McLaren Lodge:
Union Members volunteered to assist at preparation for the second annual celebration and party at the Commission Meeting Room this after noon. Mayor Gavin Newsom and Oscar De La Torre started the tradition along with many of Union members which has grown into an event for all to look forward to. State Senator Leland Yee showed up to congratulate the recipients and spoke to the membership and guests at the event. Our Majority Whip of the California State Assembly, Fiona Ma had certificate presentations for all 12 gardeners! Ed Reiskin, Mke Farrah, Rafael Mandelman, Debra Walker, RPD Commissioner President Mark Buell and commissioners Tom Harrison, Gloria Bonilla, and our own Tom Harrison showed up to watch Ramon Hernandez and Phil Ginsburg present the honors to each member. Special thanks to Margaret McArthur and Theresa Foglio for all the extra help as well as the SF Parks Trust, the Neighborhood Parks Council, the Arboretum Society, Scoma's, and Local 261 for their contribution & sponsorship. Enjoy your Parks!

SFRPD/SF Parks Commission/SF Botanical Society/Parks Trust/SF NPC/ and Scomas host Second Annual William Hammond Hall Celebration Tuesday 7/27 1-4pm.

Join SFRPD General Manager Phil Ginsburg and LiUNA! Local 261 Business Manager Ramon Hernandez in Celebrating our Public /Private Partnerships, State Certified Apprenticeship, and our Gardeners of the Month and recipients on Mayor Gavin Newsom's William Hammond Hall Award marking this special occasion.

The 2010 recipents are:
Ray Goodenough, George Olivera, Jason Martinez, Bob Fiorello, Christopher Campbell, Hugh Mallaney, John Smith, York Martin, Virginia Aubry, Joe Chmielewski, Ben Martin, Nick Soumie

CCSF/LIUNA! 261 JLMC REACHES FINAL F-DAY POLICY. For questions related to minimum staffing or other specifics kindly contact your Dept. personnel.

Organize Or Die!

STAND UP FOR WORKING FAMILES

Media Advisory

July 21, 2010

STAND UP FOR WORKING FAMIILES ASKS SF CITY ATTORNEY DENNIS HERRERA TO INVESTIGATE ADACHI MEASURE USE OF CIVIL GRAND JURY

WHAT: The newly formed Stand up for Working Families will hold a press conference after delivering a letter to City Attorney Dennis Herrera asking for an investigation as to whether the City’s Grand Jury process was misused and utilized as a political vehicle for Jeff Adachi and Craig Weber. A letter, sent by Mr. Herrera to San Francisco Superior Court addressing his concerns, will be distributed as well as the letter from Stand Up for Working Families to Mr. Herrera requesting an investigation into the appropriateness of Mr. Weber’s behavior, including the exclusion of a minority juror report and asking for details as to Mr. Weber’s conversations with Jeff Adachi’s initiative campaign. Mr. Weber served simultaneously as a committee chairperson of the Civil Grand Jury examining the City’s pension system and as Treasurer of a political committee to support a ballot initiative dealing with the same issue.

WHO: Stand up for Working Families; Firefighters; Police Officers; City Workers.

WHERE: Steps of City Hall (facing Polk St.)

WHEN: Thursday, July 22, 2010

TIME: 1:00 PM

CONTACT: Tom O’Conner (415) 717-5322

Bob Muscat (916) 761-5995

Stand Up for Working Families is a coalition of San Francisco Firefighters, Police Officers and other City workers and their families who are unified against threats to their family’s health care and retirement benefits.

Adachi's Smart Reform is Attack on Public Employees/Collective Bargaining!

(i) It is the express intent of the voters that employers participating in the Health Service System and Retirement System, as well as active employees who are members of those systems, each pay an equitable share of pension and medical care costs. With respect to City employees, should a court of competent jurisdiction render a final judgment determining that any portion of this section cannot be enforced, then there shall be no increase in the cost of bargained compensation for a period of five years after the expiration of any memorandum of understanding in effect as of November 2, 2010 covering employees covered by such judgment. If, notwithstanding the voters' intent, an arbitrator awards an increase in wages or other economic benefits for employees under section A8.409-4 or A8.590-5, or the City is otherwise compelled to negotiate or arbitrate wage or benefit increases, such increases shall be presented to the voters for approval before they may become effective, for a period of five years after the expiration of any memorandum of understanding in effect as of November 2, 2010 covering such employees.
more here

DPW Bids save M-F, Ciy Committee sets deadline for F-day Policy, Various

DPW bids to take place all next week. Nice work by the bid committee in securing the M-F schedules that mean so much to the members. Edison, Nikki, Dan, Robert, Sam, and Theresa all worked to assist in this important effort that makes a difference in terms of keeping family commitments, getting training and promotional opportunities, as well as a simple change of scenery.
City Committee sets F-Day Policy deadline: At the June Committee meeting, the membership expressed displeasure at the apparent inability of the respective Departments to accept furlough day requests. The subject was discussed at length and after thorough debate it was agreed that the the City would have until midnight July 23, 2010 (the same day ast the Joint Labor Management Committee Meeting,) to finalize and articulate written policy for distribution. It is possible that we will have it sooner than that as well.
Adachi ATTACKS Workers: Stay tuned and join Facebook http://Facebook.com/Liuna261
to learn more about this bullshit effort against working men & women by our Public Defender headed to the Ballot this November.
New City and County Personal Service Contracts are found here

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.