Teacher’s Assistant Guadalupe Valdovinos (Flournoy Elementary) was unfairly dismissed on Feb 20, 2019. She knew she was protected by her union contract and after reaching out to the membership resource center she won her case. Guadalupe will be reinstated, with backpay, and no loss of seniority. That’s union power!
As we come to the end of 2019, we're celebrating some pretty amazing accomplishments Local 99 members won this year! From joining the strike lines in L.A. and Chicago to Child Care Providers winning the right to collectively bargain to making Summer Bridge a reality and addressing candidates for U.S. President about their positions on education - SEIU Local 99 members were on the front lines in 2019, making a difference for ourselves, our students, and our communities.
The custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, special education assistants, and other dedicated education workers of SEIU Local 99 have voted to back George McKenna (District 1), Scott Schmerelson (District 3), Jackie Goldberg (District 5) and Patricia Castellanos (District 7) for the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. The LAUSD primary election is on March 3, 2020.
Our Bargaining Team is currently in negotiations with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) over wages. Our team has challenged the district to think creatively about improving wages and compensation for Local 99 members.
Earlier this year, LAUSD wrongfully denied hundreds of SEIU Local 99 members enrollment in the Summer Bridge Fund (also called the Classified School Employee Summer Assistance Program). The district claimed these members were not eligible because they worked the 2019 summer session. We fought back and more than 1300 members are now back in the program.
Special Education Assistants, Classroom Aides, Custodians, Bus Aides and 7000 other SEIU Local 73 classified employees at Chicago Public Schools (CPS) are on strike with teachers who are members of the Chicago Teachers’ Union (CTU). We are proud to stand with them. SEIU Local 99 Member Jeanette Verbera, a Special Education Assistant at LAUSD, and Organizer Toi Jackson are on the picket lines in Chicago standing in solidarity with our Local 73 brothers and sisters. Read Toi's report from the strike lines.
SEIU Local 99 education workers fought hard to pass California's Summer Bridge Fund law that provides school workers with a safety net to help them make it through the summer when no work is available. But LAUSD is wrongfully denying many workers access to the program and forcing families to struggle with hunger and eviction during the summer months. We've contacted the District repeatedly to fix this issue. But they refuse to move. It's time to take action.
We officially opened negotiations with LAUSD on June 18, 2019 over our 2019-2020 wage increases. Our Bargaining Team spoke before the school board to let them know we’re ready to bargain for fair and equitable raises and real solutions to staffing shortages that impact student learning.
As the school year draws to a close, we’re also completing a season that put public education front and center in our communities. We're proud to say that SEIU Local 99 members played a big part in this.
Our union health care benefits contract allows for eligible district employees to receive $3000 per year if they choose not to participate in LAUSD health care benefits plans and have health coverage through their spouse/domestic partner’s employer, Medicare, Medicaid, or other source. To receive the cash-out payment, you must decline benefits in writing by submitting [...]
