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New to the union? Learn what unions are, how our union works, and why you don’t want to go without one.
By coming together, we can realize the changes we want to see at our jobs and in our communities. Joining your co-workers in the union is a first step.
Want to read up on your contract? Need help with a work site issue? Searching for discounted tickets? Go here for everything member-related.
New to the union? Learn what unions are, how our union works, and why you don’t want to go without one.
By coming together, we can realize the changes we want to see at our jobs and in our communities. Joining your co-workers in the union is a first step.
Want to read up on your contract? Need help with a work site issue? Searching for discounted tickets? Click here for everything member-related.
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FEATURED NEWS
Standing Strong with Teachers on Day One of UTLA Strike
The rain and cold couldn’t stop us from standing union strong for our children and communities. As the teachers' kicked-off their strike, SEIU 99 members joined them on the picket lines before and after school and during breaks. And at ten schools, members took the courageous step to give up their pay and sympathy strike with teachers. We’ve heard from [...]
Judge Rules That Teachers’ Strike Can Begin on Monday
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Thursday cleared the path for a teachers’ strike to start Monday, January 14. Now that LAUSD teachers have the legal clearance to go on strike, the question is whether UTLA and LAUSD will be able to reach an agreement before Monday and avert a strike. The two parties meet again on Friday.
Bargaining Update: Impact of the Teacher’s Strike
On Thursday, January 3 we met with LAUSD to bargain over the impact the January 10 teacher’s strike will have on SEIU Local 99 members and schools. We brought to this meeting many of our questions and concerns in an effort to learn about the District’s plans to safely operate schools during UTLA’s strike.
Strengthening Parent Voices in Schools (AB 2261)
Community Representatives are an important liaison between schools and the community. They serve a key role as problem-solvers in our schools. In the past, Community Representatives were essentially treated like temporary employees. So in 2018, we put forth Assembly Bill 2261 to address these issues. Here's what we've won with AB 2261.
December 8 Leadership Summit & Recognition Gala
This past Saturday, Local 99 member leaders came together for a day of leadership development at Universal City Sheraton. This was followed by our annual Member Recognition Gala where exceptional leaders across our union were recognized for their work as organizers, representatives, and as high contributors to COPE. Check out the photos from the events!
SEIU Local 99 Education Workers Endorse Heather Repenning for LAUSD Board District 5 Seat
Los Angeles, CA – The education workers of SEIU Local 99 have voted to endorse Heather Repenning for the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education (District 5). The endorsement comes following a process that included candidates completing an extensive questionnaire designed by SEIU Local 99 members and a town hall meeting on December 4 where candidates seeking SEIU’s [...]
UNITED WE BARGAIN,
DIVIDED WE BEG
Janus vs AFSCME: The attack on our union, our bargaining power, our livelihoods
Public sector workers across the country—including school employees—are facing attacks by anti-union groups. A recent decision in a Supreme Court case—Janus vs AFSCME—is the latest attack that aims to break the collective bargaining power we have through our union. If you don’t know what collective bargaining power is and why it matters to you, see this short video, or just know two important facts about it:
- Collective bargaining gives you and every one of your co-workers a legally-binding contract with your employer that guarantees and protects your rights on the job, including your wages, benefits, and working conditions. Plus it gives you and your co-workers the ability to win more.
- The power in collective bargaining power is derived from the sheer number of union members in SEIU Local 99. We are 30,000 members strong and this unity empowers us to negotiate for better wages, benefits, job protections, and improvements to the services we provide to students and families. The attacks on workers have just one purpose: to break our unity, defund our union, and silence the voice of workers like you.
What Happens if We Do Nothing?
Doing nothing to defend against these attacks is like giving a burglar the keys to your home to take whatever they want.
The things we have and need—a livable income (and the collective bargaining power to increase your income), health care benefits, sick time, our basic job rights—can all be taken from us or diminished. If we do nothing, we allow the balance of power to be tilted in favor of the employer. Our employers become emboldened to start cutting our wages, hours, benefits and more because they know we’ve done nothing to fend off this attack.
Doing something means understanding and educating your co-workers about what these attacks are trying to do to hurt us, sticking together with your co-workers as union members, and taking lead in building strength in your workplace.
“The Union” is Our Union
A labor union is a remarkably simple and proven idea with a simple proposition: an organized group of workers—with common interests—can gain a lot more for everyone than the individual going about it alone.
And the purpose of unions is also simple: to raise the standard of living of working people. Put into practice, the idea of strength gained through unity has lifted up working families and communities since the Industrial Revolution, when the very first labor unions were founded by workers.
Collective bargaining, minimum wages, health care benefits, paid vacation time, seniority, the forty-hour work week, heck…even weekends—these and many of our basic labor rights and job benefits didn’t appear out of thin air, and certainly weren’t given out of the generosity of employers.
No, they were demanded, fought for and won by workers. But not just any workers…we’re talking about workers united around a cause. That’s right—when we talk about “the union,” we’re talking about us, the workers.
We are the union. This union is ours—ours to keep and ours to defend.
“The Union” is Our Union
A labor union is a remarkably simple and proven idea with a simple proposition: an organized group of workers—with common interests—can gain a lot more for everyone than the individual going about it alone.
And the purpose of unions is also simple: to raise the standard of living of working people. Put into practice, the idea of strength gained through unity has lifted up working families and communities since the Industrial Revolution, when the very first labor unions were founded by workers.
Collective bargaining, minimum wages, health care benefits, paid vacation time, seniority, the forty-hour work week, heck…even weekends—these and many of our basic labor rights and job benefits didn’t appear out of thin air, and certainly weren’t given out of the generosity of employers.
No, they were demanded, fought for and won by workers. But not just any workers…we’re talking about workers united around a cause. That’s right—when we talk about “the union,” we’re talking about us, the workers.
We are the union. This union is ours—ours to keep and ours to defend.
“We need to stand united because the typical goal of any employer is to get the very most while giving the very least. If we aren’t united, they will try to take away everything — sick time, overtime, job protections, good pay. That’s why I’m standing with my union and signing a membership card.”
Angel Valera, LAUSD Heavy Truck Driver“United we bargain, divided we beg. There’s truth to that. We all know there are a lot of issues we need to fix at LAUSD, but the fact is we can’t do it alone. Together, we have the power to protect what we have and keep making improvements to our jobs and our schools. That’s why I’m sticking with Local 99 and signing a union card.”
Lynneier Boyd-Clark, LAUSD Bus Driver“With a union, I have job protection and security, seniority and a set schedule. I can plan my future. If my coworkers and I feel like something isn’t right at our job, we have a voice. We only notice things when they’re gone, like health insurance. Together we fought for it and together we’ll continue fighting to improve it and expand it to more members.”
Alicia Gutierrez, LAUSD Special Education Assistant“I worked hard for many years at LAUSD and I’m now able to enjoy my retirement benefits. I’m still involved in our union because I think it’s important for all workers to be able to retire with dignity. We can only protect these benefits by being united.”
Robert Martinez, Retired LAUSD Special Education AssistantHOW WE RESIST
We can act to not only resist the attacks on working people, but become a stronger and more resilient union. It starts with knowing how we’re being attacked. Secondly, it takes a commitment to stand in solidarity with your fellow education workers and all working men and women. Last, but not least, it takes leadership and organizing to continue the work of building strength and unity among education workers.
HOW WE RESIST
We can act to not only resist these attacks, but become a stronger and more resilient union. It starts with knowing how and why we’re being attacked. Secondly, it takes a commitment to stand in solidarity with your fellow education workers and all working men and women. Last, but not least, it takes leadership and organizing to continue the work of building strength and unity among education workers.
Know What Janus vs AFSCME is Really About
Resistance starts with being informed and educated. The Supreme Court’s decision on Janus vs AFSCME opens the floodgates for more attacks on working people. Know what this case is actually about, what it means for you, and to recognize the tricks anti-union groups will employ to attack us.
Stand in Solidarity
Stand in solidarity with your fellow education workers by renewing your membership with SEIU Local 99 and staying a union member. Solidarity is the one thing no one can take away from us. It’s also our best defense. By re-committing to union membership, you’re making the statement that you’ve got the backs of your fellow education workers.
Lead & Organize
We must stand up and lead, now more than ever. If you care about the well-being of your co-workers, your students, your family and your community, know that the anti-union groups behind the attacks don’t. Doing nothing, being a bystander amidst these attacks hurts you and the things you care about, and helps our enemies.
WHAT WE CARE ABOUT
We care about having good jobs, providing quality education, and building healthy, vibrant communities – and we believe these things all go hand-in-hand. That’s why we lead movements for change at the bargaining table, at our work sites, and at the ballot box.
We fight to win contracts that not only improve wages and benefits for our families, but that also improve staffing and programs for the students and families we serve. As education workers and parents, our commitment to ensuring every student has access to a quality education is deeply personal.
As union members, we exercise our collective voice at the ballot box to ensure that the things we care about—like fair pay, workplace respect, access to affordable health care—are prioritized. And we hold our elected officials accountable to students. If they say they’re going to expand funding for public education or pass laws that help working people, we make sure they do just that.