Screen Reader Mode Icon

What are we willing to fight for in our 2023 contract?

Our union contract expires on June 25, 2023. We are preparing now to negotiate the best possible contract for the future.  

Over the last ten weeks, thousands of SEIU 521 Santa Clara County members have come together in over 100 departmental meetings to talk about what we need to fight for and win in our new contract. Now it is time for everyone to participate in the bargaining survey process.  Our elected county bargaining team, comprised of co-workers across all bargaining units, will use the results to develop our bargaining priorities and contract proposals. 

Just as important, we’ll continue to meet and build our campaign.  Our goal is to win a fair contract from the county by June 25, 2023 – and to be ready to strike if that is what it takes to win what we need to meet the needs of our families and the people we serve in our jobs.  

Survey extended through Friday, March 31 - 5 p.m. If you have questions, please contact your worksite contract action team or bargaining team member

Please note: all bargaining survey submissions are for contract planning purposes only. Submission will never be shared with county officials.
* denotes required questions.

Question Title

* Your contact information

Question Title

* I want to stay informed regarding negotiations and campaign updates:

Question Title

* Are you an SEIU 521 member? Please note: our co-worker bargaining team is only as strong as our membership numbers. Since the start of 2023, our co-workers have continued to build worker power by activating their memberships. If you answer "no or I don't know" below, consider activating your membership today; click here to get started. 

Question Title

* TOP PRIORITIES

Address the staffing crisis - countywide, there are 2,071 vacancies in SEIU 521 bargaining unit positions. This puts unsustainable stress on workers and lowers the quality of our services to the community. Addressing this crisis will require higher general wage increases, increases in differentials for jobs with high turnover, and serious solutions to address working environments that make our jobs unbearable. 

How do you feel about making this a top priority in this round of bargaining?

Question Title

* Indicate how you feel about making each of the following top priorities as part of solving the staffing crisis:

Higher General Wage Increase

Question Title

* Additional Wage Adjustments for Hard to Fill Jobs

Question Title

* New/Higher Differentials for Places/Shifts/Other Situations Where Working Conditions Make Jobs Harder to Fill:

Question Title

* Please share any thoughts you have on steps that need to be taken to address the staffing crisis.

Question Title

* Providing real pathways to promotions - many workers have expressed that they feel stuck in lower-paid jobs when, with the right training and opportunities, they could advance within the county.  Current support for workers who want to advance lags far behind other employers – even some in the private sector.  Getting this right will improve the county’s ability to fill higher-paying jobs more quickly with workers who will stay – it is also a meaningful way to achieve greater racial and gender equity.  Addressing this issue will require better contract language, more funding and paid time for education and training, and possible changes to the County’s merit system rules.  

How do you feel about making this a top priority in this round of bargaining?

Question Title

* Extra Help (Pathways to permanency) - over the last two years, the percentage of county workers hired as Extra Help (EH) has outpaced the number of permanent employees. EH employees pay more for healthcare benefits, are denied pensions, and have limited workplace rights while doing the same jobs as permanent workers. We don't believe it's fair to Extra Help workers or the public, nor is it the way to solve the staffing crisis. 

How do you feel about making this a top priority in this round of bargaining?

Question Title

* Making our union stronger   - Our ability to win better contracts and better treatment from Santa Clara County is directly connected to the strength of our union membership.  Since the COVID crisis began, our union’s ability to meet and sign up new workers has dropped dramatically as the county moved to a “virtual” orientation. Last year, only 33% of new hires joined our union.  The county has often not even told us where they are working.  We believe the county can and should make it possible for new employees to meet a union representative on their first day of work and supply our union with accurate information about where everyone works. 

How do you feel about making this a top priority in this round of bargaining?

Question Title

* If you would like to add additional comments regarding this question, please place comments below:

Question Title

* Are there particular issues in your department or at your worksite that need to be addressed, such as hazardous conditions, lack of respect, or unfair treatment?

Question Title

* ADDITIONAL ISSUES WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR

If there are other changes that you and your co-workers believe we should fight for in this round of negotiations, please describe them in the appropriate section below.

Economic Issues (Changes in paid-time off, benefit plans, uniform allowances, premium pay, and other non-salary items that you believe that you and your co-worker are willing to fight for)

Question Title

* Why do you and your coworkers believe we need to fight for this?

Question Title

* Non-Economic Issues (Changes in policies and procedures like job bidding, shift selection, telework, discipline procedures, and work rules like Voluntary Reduced Work Hours, and WOOC)

Question Title

* Why do you and your coworkers believe we need to fight for this?

Question Title

* Are there any other issues not outlined above you'd like to include in your bargaining survey?

Question Title

* ORGANIZING TO WIN 

Santa Clara County workers across nearly every department are already conducting worksite meetings and organizing around workplace issues. We know these negotiations will be tough, but we also know what we can accomplish when we unite. Our ability to win a strong contract depends on our collective strength. The time to join the fight for a strong and fair contract is now. 

Check all of the following activities that you will participate in to be part of winning a fair contract for all of us.

Before submitting your survey. Please note our contract campaign site is now live. Visit: www.seiu521.org/santaclaracounty to find negotiation updates, meet your county co-worker bargaining team, and sign-up for workplace meetings.
0 of 19 answered
 

T