Congratulations to Dawn Ortiz-Legg, Jimmy Paulding and Bruce Gibson on their victories this past year for the San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors! After years of having a conservative majority, and a year after the board attempted to solidify that majority through gerrymandered redistricting, Dawn, Jimmy and Bruce, against the odds, flipped the board to become the first pro-worker majority in years. Every vote counted, as Bruce won his race by 13(!) votes. We look forward to working with the board on worker and community issues in the future with great excitement.
Congratulations to Santa Maria Councilwoman Gloria Soto
Congratulations to Councilwoman Gloria Soto, a union member, on being re-elected to the Santa Maria City Council by 41 votes! On Tuesday, December 20, she was officially sworn in as a councilmember. Gloria is a pro labor candidate who has fought for working people these last 4 years, and will continue to do so moving forward. Despite her opponent resorting to lies and smears in order to win, Gloria continued to run a community and worker focused campaign that saw her win re-election.
The Central Coast Labor Council and local unions are happy to continue working with Gloria to improve the lives of the workers in our Santa Maria community.
2022 LABOR LEADER OF THE YEAR DINNER
City of Oxnard Provides Gratitude Pay for Grocery/Drug Retail Workers
In a watershed moment for essential workers across the country, the city of Oxnard implemented a gratitude pay program for all grocery and drug retail workers in the city.
On a 6-0 vote, the city council allocated funds to give a one-time payment of $1000 dollars to every worker in the industry, both part time and full-time, union and non-union, regardless of store size. The United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 770 (UFCW) along with the Central Coast Labor Council (CCLC), worked with the council and city staff to increase the funding from $2 million to $2.5 million.
In this moment, Oxnard became the first city in the United States to utilize the American Rescue Plan Act (ARA) fund to give direct premium pay to workers who have risked their lives throughout the pandemic. From March 2020 to now, through stay at home orders and first, second and third waves of this pandemic, these frontline workers have consistently gone to work despite the ongoing threat to their health and the health of their loved ones.
With this gratitude program, Oxnard has set a precedent for the rest of the nation. Frontline workers across the country have the opportunity to receive premium gratitude pay from the ARA through their city legislative bodies, with Oxnard leading the way. This means that potentially millions of workers will have the opportunity to receive billions of dollars nationwide.
Thank you to Councilmember Vianey Lopez for bringing this before the council, along with the Mayor and councilmembers for taking the steps to support frontline grocery and drug retail workers in not only our community, but, as it turns out, in our country.
Support Our Heroes: Pass the PRO Act.
The PRO Act isn’t just any bill—it’s civil rights legislation. It helps protect women, immigrants, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community, and is an economic stimulus. It lifts the wages of workers, creating opportunities for working people that have been ignored as the wealth gap has widened. It’s a generational opportunity for the nearly 60 million workers who want to join a union but haven’t found the path to get there under current law.
The PRO Act will:
1. Empower workers to organize and bargain, and ensure that workers can reach a first contract quickly after a union is recognized.
2. End employers' practice of punishing striking workers by hiring permanent replacements. Speaking up for labor rights is within every worker's rights - and no worker should lose their job for it.
3. Hold corporations accountable by strengthening the National Labor Relations Board and allowing it to penalize employers who retaliate against working people who support the union or collective bargaining.
4. Repeal "right to work" laws - divisive and racist laws created during the Jim Crow era - that lead to lower wages, fewer benefits and more dangerous workplaces.
5. Create pathways for workers to form unions, without fear, in newer industries like Big Tech.
Call your member of Congress at 866-832-1560 and tell them to pass the PRO Act.
We're Still Here: Remembering a Year of Perseverence
This past year, our unions and our communities have been hit by the challenges caused by a global pandemic and the ensuing economic fallout. Despite the unprecedented trials that Central Coast working families have been facing, we are still here, helping each other, fighting for each other and organizing in the face of fierce, obscenely funded opposition. Whether it’s AFSCME Local 3299 stopping a years long effort to outsource jobs with a hard-fought contract, or UAW 2865 employees going on a wildcat strike in the middle of a pandemic, workers have persevered, fought and won rights against a backdrop of a once in a century pandemic and an inequitable economic climate not seen since the roaring 20’s. Let’s take a look at some highlights of what was accomplished this year:
AFSCME 3299 agrees to Historic agreement: After being attacked through outsourcing and bad faith management, UC workers fought back through years of strikes and legal action, culminating in getting a fair contract.
UAW Wildcat Strike: In the midst of a pandemic and a recession, UC union members went on a wildcat strike for a cost of living adjustment. After members were fired, they continued to fight and ultimately got concessions from the UC out of contract.
Labor Counts: From 2019 - 2020, the CCLC took part in a census program that reached out to all union members in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Through visits to local unions, events, classes, and phone banking, we were able to contact over 30,000 union members, helping the Central Coast finish with a response rate higher than the state and national averages.
Thank you Essential workers: Since March, we have had essential union workers that have risked their lives to help others. Thank you to our members in the healthcare industries such as hospital and homecare workers, child care workers, Grocery store workers, construction workers, public workers, and everybody who has stepped up to keep us safe and our communities sustainable.
Food Distribution: With the spread of Covid-19 and the ensuing economic recession, we spoke with union leaders and decided to do a weekly drive-thru food distribution. Since May 11, there has been a union-run community food bank in Ventura every Monday that has assisted over 10,000 families and 50,000 people in the county. It will continue going well into 2021. Thank you to our volunteers for continuing to help our community.
Childcare For All: In the biggest labor election in 2 decades, 45,000 child care providers officially became union members. After years of hard work and organizing, 97% voted YES. In a workforce that is mostly women and 74% people of color, it was a historic win for Labor rights.
A Successful Fall: At the end of the day, what really mattered to our members and allies was defeating Donald Trump. Central Coast working families helped the cause by volunteering to call members in swing states. That success helped translate to local victories. Union members had a strong voice at the polls for city council races, school boards, parks and rec, city measures as well as many other races. It showed how powerful the voices of workers can be, not just nationally, but locally as well.
Despite the difficulties of this last year, we kept moving forward due to the tenacity of our workers. Thank you to everybody that has helped their community, through work, volunteering and organizing. We will continue the fight into 2021!
The Central Coast Labor Council Will Continue Food Distribution into 2021
UFCW 770 volunteer
Back in May, when we started our drive-thru food distribution as a partner of Food Share, we had the idea of helping working families in our communities through the end of the year. Seven months later, after seeing the importance of this weekly event and helping over 10,000 families and 40,000 people, we decided the best decision would be to extend the distribution through the first quarter of next year. Thank you to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12 for continuing to host this event into the future, and all of our wonderful union volunteers, local leaders, activists and community helpers. We have only made this work due to the nearly 600 volunteers that have come out to help us every week. Because of you, we are happy to be able to continue the distribution through the holidays and into 2021. Click here for more information and to sign up to volunteer. To find additional food banks in Ventura County, Click Here. For food distributions in Santa Barbara County, Click Here. For San Luis Obispo County, Click Here.
Jose from Laborers Local 585
Shane from UA Local 484
California Federation of Teachers volunteer
Brittnee From CFA
Oxnard City Councilmember Vianey Lopez
Ventura County Supervisor Matt LaVere
RIP Tony Skinner
We were devastated to learn that Tony Skinner passed away yesterday. We didn’t just lose a labor leader, we lost a champion for working families. The Central Coast is indebted to him for his tireless efforts in creating and sustaining livable wage jobs through the Project Labor Agreements he relentlessly fought for. We will miss his passion for his members and his leadership at ACE Charter High School which prepares our youth for careers that sustain our community and our economy. Our labor movement just lost one of our loudest voices. Our thoughts are with Tony's family and friends and the brothers and sisters of IBEW Local 952. Rest in peace, brother.
10,000 People Assisted at the CCLC Food Distribution
Since May 11, organized labor, along with community leaders and activists, have volunteered to put on food distributions every Monday out of the Operating Engineers Local 12 in Ventura. As of today, this food distribution has provided food relief to over 2,500 families and 10,000 people. It has been a challenge met only because of the dedication and passion of our community coming together to help our friends and neighbors.
Thank you to our local unions who have taken part: Operating Engineers Local 12, Laborers Local 585, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 484, UFCW 770, California Faculty Association CSUCI, Ventura Unified Education Association, SEIU 721, Laborers Local 220, Teamsters Local 2010, SEIU Local 2015, UDW, SEIU Local 121RN, Sheet Metal Workers' Local 104 and IBEW Local 952.
We also want to thank our community leaders and allies such as Oxnard City Council member Vianey Lopez, Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere and CA Assemblymember Monique Limon for volunteering with us over the last 10 weeks. Thank you to Food Share and The Berry Man, Inc for continuing to help feed the community. This distribution will continue through the end of the year. Click Here to volunteer or find out more information.
Statement from the Central Coast Labor Council
We are saddened and angered by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and far too many other people of color.
Labor unions champion the right of every worker to have a union, a fair wage and a strong voice. As we escalate the fight to hold billionaires and corporations accountable for their profiteering, mistreatment, and misclassification of all workers, so too will we fight to dismantle oppressors of Black lives. The equality a union contract creates on the workroom floor ends when we walk out of the door.
Today, we are confined by our inability to put into practice the idea that Black Lives Matter. For too long, our country has proliferated a discriminatory social order where some people have their needs met and their voices heard while others are systematically devalued and silenced.
Our labor unions are social and economic vehicles designed to create a unified voice out of many. We will use that voice to listen, organize and march. We will not be silent. We will lift up Black voices in our movement and in our communities.
Central Coast Labor Council to open food distribution center.
Beginning Monday, May 11, The Central Coast Labor Council, in partnership with the California Labor Federation, the California Works Foundation and Food Share of Ventura County, will be opening a weekly food distribution center at the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 12 in Ventura.
Due to Covid-19, many workers in our community are struggling. In wake of the pandemic and the shutdowns that followed, over 56,000 working people in Ventura County applied for unemployment, and while that number in itself is astronomical, it doesn’t include people that aren’t able to receive benefits.
As this pandemic continues on and the economic crisis deepens, more and more of our members, family members and neighbors will be feeling pressure of food insecurity. Now is the time to do the necessary outreach to our members, families and community to let them know that we're here to help.
We're going to need some major volunteer help to complete this mission!! If you want to help out, CLICK HERE
Office Hours update regarding COVID-19
Due to COVID-19 and the emergency declared in Ventura County, office hours will be limited indefinitely. If we aren’t available through our office line, you can email us at info@centralcoastlabor.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Individual emails are accessible through our Staff page . While office hours may be down, we are STILL here and we are continuing to fight for Central Coast workers full time.
If you are a worker who has been affected due to cut hours, layoffs, or want to find out about sick days or leave, please check out our COVID-19 resources page to find more information on actions you can take to protect yourself and your family.
For up to date local information in Ventura county, go to www.vcemergency.com
For up to date local information in Santa Barbara County, go to www.publichealthsbc.org
For up to date local information in San Luis Obispo County, go to www.emergencyslo.org
The Oxnard School District Feels NOW is the Right Time to Vote to Layoff Workers
*****UPDATE***** The meeting has been cancelled! Thank you to everybody for making your voices heard!
The Oxnard School District is at it again.
TOMORROW, the OSD board is planning to vote to LAYOFF 80 workers.
Please read below and CLICK HERE to sign your name to this petition. Especially in times of crisis, our brothers and sisters need our unified voice.
Despite concerns about the spread of COVID-19 and a declared state of emergency, the Oxnard School District Board of Trustees will vote to eliminate over 80 jobs on Wednesday, March 18th, if we don't stop them. They'll vote with little to no community input because of social distancing requirements and concerns over spreading COVID-19. This rush to vote, despite a national state of emergency, is anti-democratic, irresponsible, and unsafe. The Oxnard School District Board of Trustees is demonstrating their disrespect for education workers and the Oxnard community.
Central Coast Labor Voice: February 2020
Central Coast Labor Council : : February 2020 : : Issue #001
UC Service Workers and Patient Care Workers Agree to Historic Agreement
One of several marches at UCSB
After 3 long years, after multiple strikes across the state, including several times at UCSB, AFSCME Local 3299 and the University of California have come to an agreement. The agreement was then ratified by the membership. The new contract increases benefits, limits the ability to outsource jobs, and affordable health care rates This was a years long process, fought tooth and nail between workers and management, with management trying to increase costs while keeping wages down, as well as outsourcing jobs in breach of the previous labor contract. The workers showed that when the labor movement fights together, we win. We can get victories and middle class jobs. We can stare down a 34 billion dollar industry and win. AFSCME 3299 and the entire labor movement has proven that.
THe santa maria women’s march was a success
The 2nd Annual Women’s March in Santa Maria took place on January 18th. Hundreds gathered and marched to Minami Park. The Central Coast Labor Council was there handing out union information, t-shirts and posters for marchers. UDW helped sponsor the event and we had elected officials marching including Salud Carbajal, Joan Hartmann and Gloria Soto. Thank you to all of our members who came out in support of the event. We will see you there again in 2021!
Santa Maria City Councilwoman and UDW member Gloria Soto
100 strong for cathy murillo
Cathy Murillo speaking to union members
Over 100 union members came out in force on Saturday, January 25th to knock on thousands of doors for Cathy Murillo in her race for the 37th Assembly District! Thank you to IBEW 952 for hosting and participating, and thank you to IUOE Local 12, Ironworkers 433, Ironworkers 416, Laborers 585, SMART 104, UA 484 and Gold Coast Carpenters 805 for coming out and defining Union Strong. Cathy will continue to have her walks every weekend in Ventura at Blanche Reynolds Park at 10 am saturdays and 1pm Sundays with the exception of February 29. We will be back at IBEW 952 again at 9 am. Santa Barbara Walks will be at Alameda Park at 11 am on Saturdays and 12 pm on Sundays through election day.
32nd Annual Labor Leader of the Year Dinner
We officially have a date. Please save it.
Does your union/organization have any issues or events you want to highlight on our newsletter? Email us and we’ll get back to you.
Scenes From a Strike: Labor Stood with AFSCME 3299 in Their Fight for a Fair Contract
CCLC Executive Director Jeremy Goldberg addresses the striking workers.
Yesterday, we joined AFSCME Local 3299 in strike marches throughout the UCSB Campus. From Storke Tower to Admissions to the Chancellor’s office, we sent a message that no matter how the UC tries to do it, the workers will NOT allow them to get away with outsourcing their jobs. The UC, using tactics that go way beyond simple greed and into insidious illegality, spent over $345 million on outsourcing jobs to outside contractors in 2016, breaching their contract. They then increased the spending by 52% in the years since, up to $523 million. By doing this in secret, in clear breach of a contract, the UC is showing us that this wasn’t a decision made with the idea of just saving a few extra dollars that day, week, month or year. It’s about eroding the power of the workers. It sends a message not just to AFSCME, but to all of us, that they want to break organized labor. Unfortunately for them, the workers won’t break, the California Labor movement won’t break, and at UCSB, the Central Coast Labor movement won’t break. We will win, and will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the UC Workers until they they get a fair contract.
To keep track of the latest bargaining updates from AFSCME 3299, CLICK HERE.
Read about the last AFSCME 3299 strike at UCSB HERE
Santa Barbara mayor Cathy Murillo speaking in support of the workers
(Video) At the Office of the Chancellor
Who Runs UC?
Solidarity
Central Coast Labor Update: 2019 Legislative Victories + More
It has been an incredibly active year for the Central Coast Labor movement. From a record number of strikes and near-strikes to the organizing campaigns of childcare workers to the signing of several Project Labor Agreements in our local communities, we have been able to successfully fight back against rulings and laws designed specifically to weaken us at the federal and judicial levels.
It has been a vital year for our State Legislature. With a supermajority of Democrats in both houses, we have been able to pass remarkable pro-worker bills that will shape policy for decades to come. From passing AB 5, which protects workers against misclassification to AB 378, which allows for childcare workers to collectively bargain with the state of California, it has been a year of historic wins for our labor movement. A special shout out to Assemblywomen Monique Limon and Christy Smith for your work in championing Labor rights for childcare workers (AB 378)and charter school reform (AB 1505), respectively. Below is a list of labor sponsored bills that were passed.
AB 5 (Gonzalez) - Disrupt Inequality and Rebuild Middle Class – Codify Dynamex Decision to Expand Workers’ Rights.
AB 51 (Gonzalez) - Access to Justice – Stop Forced Arbitration of Workers’ Rights.
AB 378 (Limon) - Allows 40,000-plus childcare workers to collectively bargain for livable wages, training and benefits.
AB 485 ( Medina) - Invest in Good Jobs – Require Transparency & Accountability for Local Subsidies to Distribution Centers.
AB 520 (Kalra)- Closes a loophole that allows developers to bypass the prevailing wage because of the Departent of Industrial Relations’ interpretation of what constitutes a “de-minimis” public subsidy.
AB 731(Kalra) - Make Health Care Affordable - Gives unions more power in challenging health care premium increases by requiring state regulators to review all rate increase proposals annually in a public meeting
AB 1505 (O’Donnell) - Charter School Accountability - Strengthens the approval process of charter schools so communities have a voice and the best interests of all students are considered.
AB 1613 (O’Donnell) - Charter school construction prevailing wage - Applies the prevailing wage worker protections to charter schools electing to receive tax-exempt conduit financing from a public agency.
AB 1768 (Carrillo) - Pre-Construction Activities Prevailing Wage - Clarifies that the prevailing wage applies to site assessments, feasibility studies, and other pre-construction phases of a public works project.
SB 530 (Galgiani) - Confronting Harassment in the Construction Industry - Establishes an advisory committee to develop an industry specific harassment and discrimination prevention policy and training standard for use by construction employees
SB 645 (Monning) - Limit Deposition for Asbestos and Silica Cases - Protects individuals deemed by a physician to have substantial medical doubt of their survival beyond six months (due to mesothelioma or silicosis) from prolonged civil discovery sessions by limiting depositions to seven hours
100 percenters:
Thank you to Senators Bill Monning, Hannah-Beth Jackson, Henry Stern, and Assemblywoman Monique Limon for voting 100% with Labor on the above bills!
central coast news
In case you hadn’t heard, we had a couple of Labor Day picnics and they were awesome:
Santa Maria
Oxnard
Campaign season has begun early with a November election in Santa Barbara and the upcoming California primary (only 20 weeks, 3 days and 13 hours away but who’s counting?) we have officially made some endorsements. You can check them out by CLICKING HERE.
If you are planning on running for office in this upcoming cycle and are wanting to learn more about our endorsement process, CLICK HERE.
Candidate Training is coming up in the 8 days. If you missed out on the application deadline, fill out the form to stay in touch with us and we will give you a heads up on the next one.
Census Preparation has begun in Ventura County. If you want to start getting involved in the process of reaching out to members and hard to count folks, CLICK HERE for more information or you can contact Dan.
SEIU-UHW and UFCW 770 both won contracts and averted strikes!
AFSCME 3299 is still battling with the UC, who are continuing the same tactics they’ve used now for over 2 years. We will continue to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters.
National
UAW is still fighting for a fair contract
Chicago Charter School Teachers set a strike date. SEIU will walk out with them.
Rudy Giuliani is probably going to prison
Happy Friday!
A SUCCESSFUL OXNARD PICNIC CAPPED OFF A GREAT LABOR DAY WEEKEND
This Labor Day weekend was a huge success. Over 1000 of our members and allies came out to Santa Maria and Oxnard to celebrate with us. On Monday, we had over 400 people at Oxnard College Park. We want to thank Ventura County Firefighters for sponsoring the event. Thank you to Laborers Local 585 for killing it with ALL of the food. Thank you to IBEW Local 952 for once again providing the games for the kids. Thank you to our guest speakers for your support. Thank you to our sponsors and volunteers: SEIU Local 721, UFCW Local 770, Pipefitters Local 484, Californians for Energy Independence, SEIU Local 2015, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 501, Operating Engineers Local 12, Teamsters Local 2010, Teamsters Local 186, Sheet Metal Workers' Local 104, Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, and Lorrie Brown. Your contributions through the years have helped working families successfully fight for fair wages on the Central Coast.
click here for more
The Santa Maria Valley Picnic is a Success Story
Nearly 700 in attendance. A new record!
Yesterday we had a blast helping put on the 6th Annual Santa Maria Valley Labor Day Picnic with the United Domestic Workers. It has grown into an extraordinary event, with nearly 700 people coming to enjoy great music, food and festivities this year. We had incredible student dancers (provided by the California Teachers Association), we had great political allies who met and spoke with their community, face painting, great food and an all around fun time for our local union members and members of our community. It couldn't be done without the help of our sponsors and volunteers from the various unions and organizations who have stepped up and grown this event over the last 6 years.
Assemblywoman Monique Limon with Laborers Local 220 Business Manager Hertz Ramirez and CCLC Vice President (and proud UDW member) Yesenia DeCasaus
To start, let's give a huge thank you and shout out to Laborers Local 220 for your unbelievable contribution and partnership these past 2 years, helping us grow and realize the potential of this event. Thank you to UFCW Local 770, the Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP, SEIU Local 721, Santa Barbara for Safe & Local Transport, Democrats of San Luis Obispo Club (along with Club President Heather Gray for taking some awesome pictures, all of which are seen here), Teamsters Local 2010 and all of our private individual donors for your commitment to not only this event, but to the working families in our local communities.
CCLC Joins the UDW Home Care Providers to speak to the SB Board of Supervisors
This morning, IHSS caregivers represented by UDW Home Care Providers Union in Santa Barbara County are asking SB supervisors to give them $0.20 more per hour via matching state funds for dental and vision insurance. At no cost to SB taxpayers, that sounds like a valuable investment in our IHSS system and our workers.
UFCW 770 Workers: One Job Should Be Enough
Solidarity reigned supreme as UFCW 770 members were joined by SEIU 721, SEIU 2015, CSEA, AFM, community allies and elected officials as they took their fight for a new contract directly to the managers, stores, customers and the public. Backed by an army of community support, UFCW 770’s members and activists drove to and delivered the message to Central Coast Ralph’s, Vons and Albertsons stores that ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH.
At stops throughout the day, UFCW delegations were joined by elected officials who believe that grocery workers (and all workers) deserve a fair shake at the negotiating table. Executives can’t get away with giving themselves 20-30% annual raises and then offer the employees — the only reason that they’re able to achieve such massive profits — just 1%.
Thanks to Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Megan Harmon, Santa Barbara Supervisors Das Williams, Gregg Hart, Joan Hartmann, Goleta City Councilman James Kyriaco, Ventura City Councilwoman Sofia Rubalcava, Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, Moorpark City Councilman David Pollack, Oxnard City Council members Oscar Madrigal, Vianey Lopez and Bert Perello for showing up, marching and delivering our message of community and solidarity directly to store management.