Tag Archives: seiu 721

SEIU 721 Members Fight To Lower Dues Petition Circulating

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Members want to pay the same across the region but the Union has its eye on members paying more.

Dues Standardization was discussed and committees formed but the issue fell through the cracks now after the recent beat down by County and City elected officials the membership across the region has once again taken up the topic of Dues Standardization and it has resulted in the largest single petition drive in the history of SEIU 721 International as the members gather signatures to deliver to the Executive Board Demanding all members pay the same reduced rate of $35.00 per month. Let’s take a look at the compensation of SEIU 721 Staff and the history of the 721 Dues.

 SEIU 721 Staff demand better than the very members they represent

Personnel Expenses accounted for 32.68% of the $4,520,059 income for the month of July, 2011. SEIU 721 staff worked very hard to get members to concede to pay 4% for Retirement Health Care, accept higher medical and dental costs, as well as giving up raises and delaying others but what about their own contract?

  •     SEIU 721 Staff Refused ANY Retiree health care concessions
  •     SEIU 721 Staff Refused giving up a floating holiday to share the sacrifice
  •     SEIU 721 Staff Filed Unfair Labor Practice Claims against the union
  •     SEIU 721 Staff Received Wage Increases each year indicated below:

  7/1/07 3%
7/1/08 3%
  7/1/09 3%
What Other Benefits Do 721 Staff get at the Members Expense?

We will delve further into the Contract that SEIU 721 Staff entered into which ended July, 2010. (2)

Generous Pensions Paid for by the Members:

  • Local 721 shall make monthly contributions into the SEIU Affiliates Plan equal to fourteen (14) percent of salary for all Bargaining Unit members.

One pension isn’t enough for SEIU 721 Staff?

  • SEIU 721 will provide a 401(k) plan and will pay $.50 (fifty cents) for each dollar deferred up to a maximum of three percent (3%) of salary deferred.
  • (2 )Two Floating Holidays,
  • Full Health
  • Dental
  • Vision,
  • Life insurance in the amount of three (3) times the employee’s annual salary up to $250,000 shall be provided at NO COST to the employee.
  • Very generous Vacation Days
  • Sick Days earned at 100%, 75%, & 50% of pay are provided to SEIU 721 Staff even after most members have stopped earning the same.
  • Sick Time Sell Back
  • Local 721 agrees to provide cell phones.
  • Employees who use their vehicle to conduct union business shall be reimbursed for the cost of membership in the Automobile Association of America (AAA) or any comparably priced roadside assistance service.
  • The employer shall pay the deductible, up to a maximum of five-hundred ($500.00) for verified automobile accidents which occur during the conduct of Local 721 business

WORK OUT OF CLASS/ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Section A. Work Out-of-Class
An employee assigned and authorized to do a substantial portion of the duties of a higher-level position shall be paid at the salary rate of the higher-level position for the duration

Most interestingly the following article might explain why staff always pushes for the will of the union even when it is inexplicable. After all having such a well paid job with benefits some members can only wish for or have recently given away is reason enough to support the rulings made but this clause forces the staff to keep quiet.

Staff Support of Executive Board Decisions
The Local 721 Executive Board encourages debate and discussion of policy alternatives for the local union through the joint Labor Management committee. However, once a Board policy or directive has been agreed upon, it is expected that all staff will support that policy or directive. Further, it is expected that staff will take no action in dealings with members to challenge or question Board policies, once adopted, or to do anything in dealings with the membership, or other staff, to foment dissension among the membership or staff relative to policies and directives which the Board has adopted. Staff are reminded that the must distinguish between their status as employees of the Local Union, and any status they may have as members. As employees, they are expected to adhere to this policy in all of their activities.
Violations of this provision of the collective bargaining agreement may result in discipline, up to and including termination.

35.00 Per Month It’s good for Ventura but not LA?

LA County & Special Districts Paid $3,545,890 in dues for the Month of July 2011 Making up 78% of the total income for the union, LA and other Cities within the LA/OC area paid  $561,348 or 12% of the total income for the month ending July 2011.

Dues rates for members in the LA/OC County range from 1.25 to 1.50% of a members yearly salary and can range from $50.00 to $95.00 or more per member per Month.

We asked 22 year former SEIU 721 Steward Dan Mariscal about the history of the dues the members pay and the petition drive, here is what he shared with us. The history of the dues comparison in Local 721 was addressed by the former Local 721 appointed President, (1) Annelle Grajeda, about the time of the 721 mergers. She had promised other regions in writing, not to change their dues structure until they had bargained their next contract.

Shortly after the mergers, a Dues Unification Committee was set up, of which I participated in. Through teleconferences with the other regions, the County and City regional members of the committee, were frustrated that the other two regions were resistive to changes in their dues structure and often referenced the written agreement, by Annelle Grajeda, to maintain their dues structure, which was flat rated to a set monthly amount. Through the mergers, the Tri-counties and Inland Empire regions saw an increase in services, where the LA City workers and LA County workers did not have the increase in services. In fact, they no longer had business representatives as they once did in legacy locals 347 (LA City) and 660 (LA County). Despite the efforts of the Dues Unification Committee, there was no consensus reached on what would be a fair equalized standard Local 721 members should pay.

Pursuant to 721′s Constitution and By-laws the intent of Article 5, section A, was that “Members in each of the four regions have plans to equalize dues. In some areas dues have been lowered, in other areas increases will be tied to raises in order to reach a uniform rate.”

The Local’s Executive Board and/or union administration has simply failed or neglected to achieve a uniform or equalized rate as each region has a different dues rate, so that entitles the members to act on their own. It is legally recognized that the members are the highest authority of the local. One Rank and File LA County steward put it best when he stated, “there’s no good reason why some are entitled to drink from one water fountain, while others are forced to drink from another”. I’ve also been informed that the Union has instructed some worksite organizers to travel to worksites to discourage this Petition signature gathering as another City Worker noted, staff is obviously “doing nothing more than protecting their raises….at our expense”. The staff obviously have a vested interest in fighting this standardization as it may directly affect their pay.

The Union staff often responds by saying that “this is no time for a weakened union”.  Some responded that “we already have a weakened union…..there’s no point in paying top dollar for it”
The bottom line: The Rank and File membership has had enough! -Dan

Dues Petition and mailing instructions

After reviewing the facts above most members feel violated they trusted union staff on making concessions, with the added burden of lower take home pay members feel very strongly that the union needs to make significant adjustments to its budget since it comes directly out of our pocket.

Enclosed below is a PDF version of the document with the instructions on how to turn it in, they will present it to our elected Executive board, They should have little choice except supporting the will of the members, unless the $300.00 per month stipend is more important to them that is.

Petition for Dues Standardization (Link)

Mailing Instructions per Mr. Mariscal

721 Rank and File
1012 W. Beverly Blvd. # 304
Montebello, CA. 90640

SEIU 721 Response to Petition
SEIU 721 was asked to comment on what lowering the dues for members would entail Specifically they were asked to answer the following two questions.
•     “If this is a member run organization, don’t the members decide?
•    Specifically What are the downsides of standardizing the dues to the requested $35.00?

We gave them significant time to respond and we have yet to hear back from them, certainly they will decide it is better to respond by spending tens of thousands of dollars on robo-calls, email, and literature all at your expense.

Anticipated Union Position

SEIU WILL use fear tactics to scare you into paying more, don’t be fooled!

Basically the union position is that it needs to continue to increase everyone’s dues to 1.5% because we need to pay for representation and to continue to donate to the politicians that never remember who we are.

LA City Workers.com position we are neutral on this issue because we are concentrating on many others and feel the union needs to step up and fight a different fight. If the members demand they pay less, the executive board shall mandate that they make the cut’s and tighten the financial belt and suck it up.

SEIU 721 did not spend 1 cent on advertising for LA City Employees when they demanded it, they let us get furlough after furlough. They charge the county a huge sum and fail to even secure them a decent contract. I feel the members’ pain and it is up to them to decide if the time has come to stop the waste, mismanagement and corruption at SEIU 721, or if they want to continue to pay for better benefits for someone else.

_________________

(1) Annelle Grajeda, former president of SEIU Local 721, and a former executive vice president of the international stepped down after the Los Angeles Times report indicated there was evidence she had arranged a transfer of tens of thousands of dollars in improper payments to a former boyfriend, Alejandro Stephens.

(2) Latest Contract available

 

Pat McOsker lacks backing of rank & file LAFD personelle, Labor in CD15 Race

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Pat McOsker With Bob Schoonover

Here are some quick facts:

  • Julie Butcher the sneaky renegade union op that was moved from Cities to County for SEIU 721 and attempted to hold a vote on a contract in a union she doesn’t even represent and has cost LA City Workers more money out of their paychecks then every recession combined in history supports McOsker.
  • Liz Greenwood gave an inappropriate ethically challenged  two minute speech about the candidate before the members voted dropping every board and title she has ever held in carrying the company line backing Pat no other candidate had the same opportunity and it didn’t persuade many.
  • LAFD Board Would not even back their own president Pat McOsker, instead choosing to wait.
  • LAFD has not seen the drastic cuts and demise of the Department under any other union leader in it’s history as it has under Pat McOsker.

Below is a letter we were made aware of that was sent to Bob Schoonover, President of SEIU 721.

Hopefully this all gets settled quickly as McOsker bragged how he had raised the most money and continues to spin his “my board likes me just not enough” line.

____________________________________

August 2, 2011

Bob Schoonover, President
SEIU Local 721

Dear President Schoonover:

United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) Local 112 President Pat McOsker is scheduled to appear at SEIU 721’s L.A. City Council District 15 Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. We urge you in the strongest of terms to avoid any endorsement of Candidate McOsker, as he is campaigning with considerable indifference to the members of UFLAC and does not have our endorsement or support.

In November 2010 President McOsker won a 3-way race for his UFLAC post with less than 36% of the membership’s vote – by no means a majority or close to a mandate. Seven months later a majority of the UFLAC Executive Board and an outspoken majority of our membership have clearly communicated their wishes to Brother McOsker: Feel free to run for public office but not while you’re the sitting president of our Union. We deserve better!

Brother McOsker has refused to step down, refused to take a leave of absence, and has shown total disdain – sometimes in graphic and vulgar terms – for his Executive Board and membership by sticking to his political agenda despite our vocal disapproval. It has come to the point that Brother McOsker, by virtue of his own actions, may find obtaining an endorsement from his own union impossible now even if he were to surprisingly step down, regardless of the way his campaign staff frames it in the media.

On July 27 the UFLAC Membership voted with 95% agreement for a non-endorsement in the CD-15. Mr. McOsker has tried to spin this in the media as, “a small faction within our Union (launching) an effort to sabotage” his campaign.

SEIU 721 has a long history and knows the pains of internal union struggles. Your union has stood strong and battled through those times to become even stronger. As an allied organization – one that represents members of the fire department labor family – we ask you to honor the wishes of our majority and not reward Candidate McOsker with your endorsement and campaign financing.

Unions sometimes disagree on political endorsements; it happens, is not done lightly, and typically has more to do with personal relationships than labor alliances. Unfortunately, any money given to McOsker may as well be tossed in the furnace. We urge you to go “open” for the CD-15 Primary and then endorse a highly qualified candidate in the General Election who is a friend of Labor and demonstrates true leadership and solidarity.

Respectfully,

Dissatisfied Members of United Firefighters Local 112

____________________________

 

2 Rouge LA City Attorneys Conspire With SEIU 721′s Julie Butcher

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In one of the most bizarre events of this budget year Two LA City Attorneys Juliann Anderson who is the Secretary of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Association and Jule Bishop have attempted to convince members of the LA City Attorneys Association to hold a Second Vote.

Although fairly standard in this cycle of concessions, what makes this story odd is that these two Board members are NOT authorized to take these actions, and goes against everything the elected board has been working for to benefit the members as a whole.

Setting up a webpage they convinced other attorneys that this was a legitimate meeting, bypassing the duly elected board and asking members to sign a petition to revote on the concession contract.

It is a shame that these members are asking for a second vote with NO claims of impropriety, they simply want to have their way. Now SEIU 721 has begun the Voting process and plans on mailing ballots to the LA City Attorneys without an attached contract which will include three choices; 1.  The coalition agreement*   2.  The new agreement from CAO – 26 days furloughs + 4%  3.  Status Quo – Keeping Colas and avoiding pay reductions and huge contributions.

Julie Butcher Returns

Who could possibly convince these people that this is the proper course of action to take?

Sources close to the investigation reveal a twisted plot involving none other then Julie “Giveback” Butcher from SEIU Local 721 the affiliated union of the LACAA.

This is the work of one very desperate former City Union representative who has been shipped out to meddle in county business and no longer works for the LA City members her personal relations with one of the individuals may have clouded her judgement in this matter.

In an email exchange we have obtained, Legal Counsel for SEIU 721 Bob Hunt clearly states that, ” There are potential legal issues if anyone asserts that some official action must be taken as a result of the meeting. I would advise that SEIU avoid doing

anything based on this meeting absent authorization from the LACAA board.”

Julie Butcher of SEIU 721

Julie Butcher of SEIU 721

Julie Butchers response,” That’s not my understanding & we’re preparing to mail ballots.”

David Sanders, SEIU Regional Director for LA Cities did not return phone calls for comment.

LACAA Board Will Respond

It is unclear at this time just which of the many avenues the LACAA Board will take to remedy this ridiculous situation, but you can count on them not standing by idly while the entire membership and their will is hijacked by an outdated irrelevant union boss and some vigilante attorney clamoring for a bigger office and management favor at the expense of her co-workers.

 

*Coalition Agreement can not be voted on as the agreement would be
modified no guarantee of what the employees would get would be included
because the members elected board are not in current
discussions with the office of the cao in this fashion.

RAMON RUBALCAVA Drinks and drives Costing SEIU members Huge!

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Ramon Rubalcava of SEIU Local 721 provided public comment on behalf of SEIU Local 721 President Bob Schoonover supporting an asset smoothing period of 7 years with a 60% – 140% Market Value of Assets (MVA) corridor.

ramon rubalcava

But who is this ramon? He likes to drink and drive and cost seiu members money! He is now somehow a pension expert??

This is ridiculous and one of the many reasons SEIU should stop setting policy. Read how he cost the members money!

Case Summary – Marotta Settlement Report (December 10, 1997) Hon. Ricardo Torres, Judge, Superior Court – Los Angeles Central Personal Injury: Auto v. Pedestrian

Settlement Amount: $250,000.00

Case Name: Matthew Marotta v. Ramon Rubalcava, Local 660 SEIU.

Attorneys: Plaintiff’s Counsel: Robert F. Brennan, Esq., Glendale
Defendant’s Counsel: David Werner, Esq., Ron Wisniewski, Esq., LAW OFFICES OF DAVID WERNER, Irvine, for defendant RUBALCAVA; Bradford Miller, Esq., Susan Westover, Esq., John Browning, Esq., MURTAUGH, MILLER, MEYER & NELSON, Costa Mesa, for defendant LOCAL 660 SEIU.

FACTS:
On March 8, 1996 at approximately 10:30 p.m., plaintiff MATTHEW MAROTTA was crossing Fountain Avenue towards his apartment. He had not been drinking. Five eyewitnesses placed MAROTTA in the crosswalk at the time of the collision. Two or three eyewitnesses placed him outside of the crosswalk. Defendant RAMON RUBALCAVA was driving eastbound on Fountain at approximately 35 miles per hour. The street is zoned for 30 miles per hour. Some of the witnesses placed RUBALCAVA’S speed at a higher rate, but skid marks at the scene suggested a speed of between 35 mph and 40 mph. RUBALCAVA admitted that he had had one to two beers some hours before the incident, but maintained that he was not drunk at the time and in fact passed field sobriety tests administered by police officers shortly after the accident. RUBALCAVA’s car struck MAROTTA while MAROTTA was about half-way across the street. MAROTTA’s face went through the car’s windshield, and his body flew from 5 feet to 20 feet in the air. RUBALCAVA’S car left 57 feet of skid marks before coming to a rest at the east end of the intersection. MAROTTA underwent surgery to repair the open fractures of his left tibia and fibula, the laceration on the right side of his face and under his nose and the fracture of his left shoulder. He also had some skin grafts for his left leg. He had a cast applied to his left leg, and his left arm was placed in a special sling/strap. He was bound in a wheelchair upon his discharge at the end of March of 1996. Two to three months later, he underwent a hip-bond graft procedure for support of his left leg. He underwent physical therapy for about seven months for rehabilitation of his left leg and shoulder. MAROTTA incurred approximately $75,000.00 in medical and therapy expenses. Future medical expenses were estimated at $20,000.00. Although his injuries healed substantially, he yet faces residual pain and limitations as a consequence of this collision.

CONTENTIONS:
Defendants contended that MAROTTA was outside of the crosswalk. Defendants also contend that MAROTTA “darted” into the street without adequately looking both ways. The Los Angeles Police Officers who investigated the collision in fact cited MAROTTA’s careless crossing of the street as the primary collision factor. Plaintiff contended that RUBALCAVA had been drinking and had been travelling at an excessive rate of speed. Defendants denied both contentions. Defendant LOCAL 660 SEIU also contended that RUBALCAVA was not in the course and scope of his employment at the time of the accident. Plaintiff contended that RUBALCAVA was coming from a job-related political event on his way to a dinner with his boss and an influential political contact from the east coast. His boss had personally invited him to this dinner, at which union business matters would be discussed. Thus, RUBALCAVA’S presence at the earlier political fundraiser was related to his job, and his attendance was job-related, and the dinner to which he was heading was job-related and at the specific request of his supervisor.

DAMAGES:
Plaintiff suffered $75,000.00 in past medical expenses, with about $20,000.00 in future medical expenses.

OTHER INFORMATION:
The settlement was reached approximately one and one-half years after the suit was filed. The $100,000.00 paid by RAMON RUBALCAVA represented his policy limits. The balance of the settlement, $150,000.00, was paid by LOCAL 660 SEIU.