We Won Additional Compensation for Designated Shifts!
The Omicron surge is hitting us all hard. To improve patient care, address short staffing issues, and enhance safety, we negotiated with AHS management to create a new differential for certain shifts. This new differential will increase staffing, allow adequate staffing for acuity peaks and high-census times, and avoid using external agencies for staffing.
Compensation for Extra Shift (CES) Details
- CES shifts will be at Highland Hospital, Fairmont Hospital, John George Hospital, San Leandro Hospitals and for eligible departments and eligible shifts as designated by AHS management
- The following classifications can sign up for a designated CES shift when offered: RNs, Respiratory Therapists, ED Techs, Certified Nursing Assistants, Mental Health Specialists I &II, Obstetric Technicians and Surgical Techs (and LVNs at John George only)
- The differential is $18.00 per hour for CES eligible shifts. The CES differential is in addition to overtime, pay differentials, or additional pay on base compensation as outlined in the relevant MOUs
- Prior to qualifying to receive CES shift pay, employees must work their full FTE schedule in their home unit that week
- SAN employees must work two shifts at straight time/holiday pay in the previous pay period before they can be eligible for CES in that pay period
- For emergent CES shifts only, the employee must report within one hour of the request for CES and work the remainder of the shift
Temporary Incentive Pay at Fairmont Hospital
Until February 1, 2022 at 7:30 a.m., there is temporary incentive pay available at Fairmont Hospital for double-time shifts for the following classifications:
- CNII – Job Code 53420
- LVN IV – Job Code 53450
- LVN – Job Code 53455
- CNA – Job Code 73610
- RNA – Job Code 72625
Fulltime employees working over 8 hours will be compensated 2X above the employee’s base rate. Full- Time employees working (above the employee’s FTE) will be compensated at the rate of 2X above the employee’s base rate.
Part-time employees working over 8 hours will be compensated 2X above the employee’s base rate. Part time employees working extra shifts (above the employee’s FTE) will be compensated at the rate of 2X above the employee’s base rate.
SAN employees working over 8 hours will be compensated 2X above the employee’s base rate. SAN employees working over 40 hours (5 shifts) will be compensated 2X above the employee’s base rate.
AHS Members Voted To Approve Our New Contract!
On Friday, April 9, we counted the votes and the answer was clear: SEIU 1021 members across Alameda Health system voted to approve the new contract!
Management has told us that our wage increases should begin on the May 15 paycheck, and the retroactive increases will take 60 days to be paid.
SEIU 1021 AHS workers at San Leandro Hospital on an unfair labor practice strike in October, 2020.
We Have a Tentative Agreement!
Our Elected Bargaining Team Recommends a YES Vote
The elected Bargaining Team gathered on Wednesday to check over the Tentative Agreements they are recommending.
“Our struggles have made us stronger!”
We have reached a tentative agreement with AHS. Our elected Bargaining Team recommends a YES vote on this new contract. Highlights include:
- NEW Governance Model and Executive Team: Trustees who put workers and patients first, a new CEO, new Director of Labor Relations
- NO Takeaways
- Four-year contract: 4/1/2020 to 5/31/2024, with 3% raises per year (retroactive to July 11, 2020), a total of 12%
- Benefits maintained: No increased healthcare costs, Kaiser now available for members at San Leandro Hospital
- Job security: beat back AHS’ proposals to remove guaranteed hours from our FTEs and issue last-minute cancellations and shift changes
- San Leandro Hospital contract brought up to General Unit standards in many areas, raising the floor for all of us
- San Leandro Hospital will begin a process to bring it into the ACERA pension plan over the next three years
- Dozens of improvements to our contracts (see AHSFight.org/TA for more!)
- Saved the Intensive Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic for our community and preserved 40 jobs there
- Brought more members in, welcoming EBMG Physicians Assistants and Nurse Practitioners and San Leando Hospital’s Clinical Lab Scientists
“Working together at a common table, with all three groups together, got us great results. We were all working toward the same things. We were able to bring San Leandro Hospital in, which builds our strength and power, and our incredibly successful strike showed just how much power we have,” said Sheleka Carter, Bargaining Team member and Community Health Outreach worker at Highland.
Contract Vote Schedule
Highland Hospital
Monday, April. 5 & Thursday, April 8
New Courtyard
6:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
4th floor walkway between ACT and K buildings
9:30 p.m. - Midnight
Fairmont Hospital
Tuesday, April 6 & Wednesday, April 7
Cafeteria
6:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Front of B Building
3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
11 p.m. - 1 a.m.
John George Psychiatric Hospital
Tuesday, April 6 & Wednesday, April 7
Loading Dock
6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
11 p.m. - 1 a.m.
San Leandro Hospital
Monday, April 5 & Tuesday, April 6
Main Building
6 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
10 p.m. - Midnight
Eastmont Wednesday, April 7
Inside Mall Top Floor
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Hayward and Newark Wellness
Wednesday, April 7
Front Entrance
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
You must be a member of SEIU Local 1021 at AHS to vote. Members can vote at any location. Vote results will be announced by end of day April 9.
Chapter Meetings for Q&A
Thursday, April 1
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Join by Phone or Zoom
Phone:
669-900-6833
Meeting ID: 845 3603 8097
Saturday, April 3
Noon - 2 p.m.
Join by Phone or Zoom
Phone:
669-900-6833
Meeting ID: 896 9160 7600
Zoom:
http://bit.ly/ahstaqasat
Patty Yanez-Medrano, Patient Service Representative at Eastmont
“We made history with a five-day strike in the middle of a pandemic. Power went back to the members. We’re going to embrace that power and make sure things are better across AHS for our members and our patients.”
-Patty Yanez-Medrano, Patient Service Representative at Eastmont
Bargaining Team members from San Leandro Hospital celebrate the Tentative Agreement with chief negotiator Nato Green.
“We did better than I expected, because of our commitment to the campaign and our commitment during the strike. It was a hard fight, and we stuck with what we deserved and we got it. Our determination paid off!”
-Takiyah Vaughn, Surgical Tech at San Leandro Hospital (second from right, above)
Settle the Contract, AHS!
On Wednesday, we rallied outside our clinics to tell Alameda Health System management that it's been months since our historic five-day strike, and over a year since we started bargaining, and our need for a strong contract has never been greater!
Outside Hayward Wellness, Chief Shop Steward Lisa Mills said she'd just had her 20th anniversary with AHS, and added "Through the years, I've become actually disheartened by upper management. They've been top-heavy over the years, and have gotten top-heavier. The ratio of managers to workers is unbelievable." This top-heavy system is having real-world impacts on the workplace:
"Even working through this pandemic, management has been quick to discipline workers, and slow to provide proper PPE. We are making extreme sacrifices, but management cares more about looking like a private healthcare provider than give us what we need to work." She concluded: "We have to keep fighting and never give up. We have to support each other!"
At Newark Wellness, workers had much the same to say. As Kaveinga Reyes said, "We came and we conquered! We always come together in the end and we never forget what we are fighting for." Jasmine, another Licensed Vocational Nurse, said "Working together is a success!"
As we keep fighting for our contract, we need all members to keep the pressure up. Wear your purple every Wednesday!
Bargaining Update for February 8
Bargaining continued last week, and the elected bargaining team continues to make progress at the table. The process of bargaining slowed down around the holidays, partially because our successful strike forced management to pick a new Board of Trustees and CEO, but things are picking up now.
Keidaw Kobbah, a bargaining team member and Registered Nurse at John George Psychiatric Hospital, notes that, after the new Trustees and CEO came in, bargaining has been “A much more cooperative effort, with more a spirit of give and take than in the past,” but also says that management is still trying to take things away from our members, including “The safety net of emergency PTO days. Taking away emergency PTO punishes families, and encourages people to come to work sick and send their kids to daycare sick. It isn’t right, and we have to fight it.”
Recent moves at the bargaining table include submitting our staffing matrices, and holding fast on our economic proposals. We expect to resolve those proposals last, and are working hard to get there. You can help us win by joining the Contract Action Team today!
Your Contract Action Team Needs You
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Ideas and Actions to Win a Strong Contract NOW
- Join Our WhatsApp Chat TODAY to Get Involved (Ask a steward or message us at facebook.com/ahsseiu1021.ourvoice)
The new winter newsletter is here!
Click here to read it.
Wear Your Purple Every Wednesday
Tag @ahs_seiu_1021 on Instagram! Use hashtag #settlethecontractahs
Post your selfies to facebook.com/ahsseiu1021.ourvoice
As a result of our historic five-day strike in October, we have been meeting with management at one shared table, with all three bargaining teams together. This has allowed us to address issues that we all share and helped us improve contract language in all three of our contracts (General Unit, RN, and San Leandro), which will improve working conditions and protect the rights of our members across AHS. Before our strike, during the negotiations from January to September, management had demanded to bargaining every issue separately at one table for each contract. It has been a big win to bring everyone together at one table.
Our unity at the bargaining table is paying off. We have been able to take some of the best parts of each contract and bring them to the other contracts. Examples include:
- We are bringing GU contract language about discipline to San Leandro and RNs
- AHS can now only use past disciplines for two years, not three, for everyone in progressive discipline
- The timelines for progressive discipline have been shortened
- We now require a written waiver of our right to have a union representative present during an investigatory meeting
- We will also be extending the amount of backpay employees may be able to win in the grievance process
- We're bringing RN contract language about payroll errors to the GU and to San Leandro Hospital
We're also improving disciplinary protections for SANs in all three contracts, and we forced AHS to remove their proposals to limit how many shop stewards we can have and reduce our ability to honor other unions' picket lines.
We are scheduled to meet again on Friday the 22nd and Wednesday the 27th. Support your elected bargaining team by wearing your purple every Wednesday!
Our Unity Is Getting Results: Board Of Supervisors Votes To Demand The Board Of Trustees Resign By Nov. 30
October 21, 2020
After a five-hour hearing on Tuesday, October 20, featuring statements from AHS management and many AHS workers, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to demand the resignation of the current Alameda Health System Board of Trustees.
Workers on the march during our historic five-day unfair labor practice strike.
This is a huge step forward for our fight for a fair contract and a public healthcare system that works for the community and its employees. AHS management fought this change every step of the way. ER nurse and chapter president John Pearson said “This was as organized as we’ve ever seen management, but when they spoke to the Supervisors, they revealed transparently how disconnected and out of touch they were.”
The Trustees must now submit their resignations or reapply for their positions by November 6, and their resignations will take effect November 30.
The elected bargaining team met with management on Monday of this week. Management has finally started to withdraw some of their shameful proposed cuts, including takeaways around cutting holiday pay, allowing SEIU members to be cancelled before travelers and registry, and giving AHS more control over changing our schedules. If we stay fully united, we can still win a strong contract.
“I’m so inspired by your courage to stand up for what’s right and go on strike!”
-SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry
Click here to download the flier to distribute at your workplace.
Daily Bargaining Team Q&A Sessions on Zoom
Monday to Friday: 6 p.m.
http://bit.ly/ahsqandamf
Saturday: 10 a.m.
http://bit.ly/ahsquandasat
October 11 Update:
We Are Moving Our Strike Actions
ONLINE!
Join Us at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.
RSVP Required
Click Here to RSVP for 1 p.m.
Click Here to RSVP for 4 p.m.
Dear SEIU 1021 member at Alameda Health System:
One union staff member who had been present on San Leandro Hospital's strike line tested positive for the coronavirus late last night. Our chapter officers and bargaining team made the difficult decision to suspend all in-person strike actions today.
But we are still strong, we are still united, and we are still on strike! We return to work Monday morning, not before, not even if a manager calls us. Join one of our digital rallies today:
RSVP for 1 p.m.
RSVP for 4 p.m.
On day five of our strike, we are breaking new ground, by taking our unfair labor practice strike to the internet! Join us online for:
An update about next steps as we return to work and return to the bargaining table
A celebration of what we won by striking
Sharing our favorite moments from our historic action
Questions and answers -- and more!
As healthcare workers, we live every day with the reality of caring for COVID-19 patients, and the risk of contracting it ourselves.
We went on an unfair labor practice strike in part because of insufficient safety precautions, shortages of PPE, a lack of transparency and contact tracing by our employer, untrained security guards and parking attendants "screening" us for coronavirus by taking our temperatures, and a dangerous, haphazard failure to test workers, including cases where testing was denied to workers who had been exposed, but were not showing symptoms.
We have conducted our strike with aggressive safety precautions, including masking, hand sanitizer, and social distancing. Chapter leaders and the bargaining team made the decision to pull down our picket lines and other in-person strike activities out of an abundance of caution.
We are taking these steps to model the kind of caution healthcare workers want and need to see in our workplaces and in public spaces. We hope that Alameda Health System and other employers follow our lead.
Join Our Car Caravan at San Leandro Hospital
October 10, 11 a.m.
13855 E. 14th St., San Leandro
October 10 Update: The San Leandro Hospital rally has been turned into a car caravan!
Please join us at 11 a.m. at San Leandro Hospital
13855 E. 14th St.,
San Leandro
Let’s make some noise and show the community that we are there for them and we won’t rest until we’ve forced Alameda Health System’s CEO and Board of Trustees to do what the Alameda County Board of Supervisors have told them to do: give us a fair contract and put public health in public hands.
Route:
Gather at San Leandro Hospital to decorate our cars
Turn left out of San Leandro Hospital on on E. 14th St.
Turn left onto W. Juana Ave. onto San Leandro Blvd.
Turn right onto E. 14th St.
Repeat!
October 9 update!
Today’s planned 2 p.m. march at AHS headquarters is being changed to a car caravan. Please assemble at the Alameda Labor Council: 7750 Pardee Lane, Oakland, to prepare for the caravan.
The caravan route is as follows:
Assemble vehicles along Pardee Ln. near the Alameda Labor Council at 7750 Pardee, Oakland, CA 94621
Drive East on Pardee Ln.
Immediate Left on Edgewater Dr.
Right on Hassler Way
Right on Oakport St. past AHS Headquarters and continue on Oakport St. as it curves right,
Right on Edgewater Dr.
Repeat.
1021 members address the executive suite at Highland Hospital on Wednesday, October 7, 2020.
Unfair Labor Strike Update: Day 1
Day one of our unfair labor practice strike was a success, and now it’s time to turn the pressure up! Tomorrow, we need all our members to:
Report to the strike line for their normal shift
Come to our rally tomorrow, Thursday, October 8, at 11:30 a.m. at 1221 Oak St. in Oakland
Sign our online petition: http://seiu1021.org/strike
On the strike line, Rodnisha Carriere, an eligibility clerk at Highland Hospital, said “I’m here for the fight with my brothers and sisters, and we’re here for the fight as long as we need to be.”
“A lot has changed since the Board of Trustees took over. We have less staff, it’s harder to get patients their meals on time, and I see some patients wait longer before bedside staff can attend to them. Our patients and staff deserve better. That’s why we’re on strike and asking the Board of Supervisors to take back control of AHS and properly fund care for our communities and patients.”
AHS Management Called Our Unfair Labor Practice Strike Illegal
We Fought Them, and We WON
We gave AHS 10 days advance notice of our strike so it could have time to schedule travelers and managers to cover our work during the strike, and to reschedule surgeries and appointments and alert other facilities in the area that we will need to be on diversion.
AHS wasted 5 of those 10 days of advance notice by doing (apparently) nothing to prepare. In the final hour, it rushed to PERB (a state agency) to try to save itself from its own mistake. It wanted PERB to believe our strike was illegal and issue an injunction to stop it. PERB was not convinced. Instead, we were able to use the PERB process to ensure that the services that we know are critically important will continue to operate during the strike. With the input of knowledgeable members working in the various units, we developed a patient care team that will receive line passes during the strike to help maintain critically important services, so that replacement workers, travelers and managers don’t mess up. That small number of employees designated to receive line passes will receive a call or email from the Union or steward on Monday, October 5, 2020.
Our strike is on! Full steam ahead. And it’s protected by law! AHS is lying when it says that this is an illegal strike. That’s simply not true.
AHS Management "Polling" FAQ
SEIU 1021 members are getting “polled” by their managers at AHS right now about whether or not they’re going on strike. Don’t worry: we’ve got your back!
Q: My boss is asking me if I'm going on strike. Do I have to answer?
A: No! You do not have to answer. You should immediately ask for your union steward. If you request a steward and they deny it, contact your union rep. If they tell you that you must answer, contact your union rep.
Q: If I do answer, what should I say?
A: Tell the truth. Do not say you intend to work if you do not intend to work. But the best thing you can do is not answer.
Q: Can they ask me more than once if I'm going on strike?
A: If they ask a second time, ask for your union steward and do not answer until they get there.
Q: Can they discipline me for striking?
A: No. Striking is legal, and strikes are legally protected. Our unfair labor practice strike is 100% legal and 100% on.
Q: I heard some managers are saying that striking will “an occurrence”/unexcused absence? Can I get disciplined for that?
A: Striking is protected activity. You cannot be disciplined for striking, no matter what they call it.
Are We Still Ready to Strike? DAMN RIGHT!
On Wednesday Sep. 30, the elected bargaining team had a last-minute meeting.
Management wants:
Us to call off our strike and come back to the table to start all over again in a month or two
To keep all of their takeaways
To ignore our proposals to improve safety and staffing
To bypass our elected bargaining team
The bargaining team met, and came to a simple conclusion: we have been bargaining since January, and the only way we are calling off our strike is if we have a fair contract. The bargaining team is ready, willing, and able to negotiate a fair deal at any time: before, during, or after our strike. To get us closer to this fair deal, we sent management a comprehensive proposal to resolve all outstanding issues. Our solidarity is getting results. The strike is on. When we fight, we win!
Our Strike is Legal
Our Strike Is ON
Join the Picket Line When Your Shift Starts
From 6:30 a.m. Oct 7 Through 7 a.m. October 12
Come to Community Events! Please note: the bargaining team’s expectation is that every member is on the line their whole shift. Our strength comes from our numbers!
Strike Schedule:
Strike Schedule
Wednesday, October 7
- Highland: 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Fairmont/John George: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- San Leandro Hospital: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Eastmont, Hayward, Newark: 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Community Rally at Highland: 10:30 a.m.
Car Caravan: 2 p.m.
Thursday, October 8
- Highland: 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Fairmont/John George: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- San Leandro Hospital: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Eastmont, Hayward, Newark: 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Community Rally at County Admin Bldg, 1221 Oak St., Oakland: 11:30 a.m.
Friday, October 9
- Highland: 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Fairmont/John George: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- San Leandro Hospital: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Eastmont, Hayward, Newark: 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Community Rally at AHS Headquarters (Oakport), Oakland: 2 p.m.
Saturday, October 10
- Highland: 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Fairmont/John George: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- San Leandro Hospital: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Eastmont, Hayward, Newark: 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Community Rally at San Leandro Hospital: 11 a.m.
Sunday, October 11
- Highland: 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Fairmont / John George: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- San Leandro Hospital: 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Community and Family Rally at Fairmont / John George: 11 a.m.
Monday, October 12
Return to Work
- Highland: 6:30 a.m.
- Fairmont / John George: 6:30 a.m.
- San Leandro Hospital: 6:30 a.m.
- Eastmont, Hayward, Newark: 8 a.m.
98% Vote YES
We Are Going On Strike
We Notified AHS Management:
Our Unfair Labor Practice Strike Will Begin
Wednesday, October 7, at 6:30 a.m.
Our Strike Will End Monday, October 12, at 7 a.m.
We have been bargaining with AHS management since January. At the bargaining table, in County Board of Supervisors meetings, in community groups, in the workplace, and in the streets we have called for better patient care and a healthcare system that works for our entire community.
Management has responded with layoffs, refusals to bargain, refusals to answer our requests for information, attempts to intimidate us and retaliate against union activity, and other unfair labor practices. They even want to tear up our contracts from top to bottom, even removing safe staffing levels.
Enough is enough. Our elected bargaining team called for a vote to authorize a strike, and the response from our members was overwhelming: the vote was 98% in favor of striking.
The morning of Saturday, September 26, we gave AHS management 10-day notice of our unfair labor practice strike. We will strike all sites with all three bargaining units: general unit, RNs, and San Leandro Hospital. The nurses united in CNA also gave a 10-day notice, and ILWU just sent their notice that they will go on a sympathy strike with us.
We will begin our strike on Wednesday, October 7, at 6:30 a.m., and the strike will end on Monday, October 12, at 7 a.m.
More details will be announced soon. Make sure your personal email and cell phone number are updated here: '
Daily Strike Q&A Sessions:
5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
RSVP for Zoom link:
http://bit.ly/AHSRSVP
Tabling Schedule for Week of September 27 - October 3:
Fairmont – Wednesday, 11 a.m. -1 p.m., Cafeteria
Highland – Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Courtyard
John George – Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1p.m., Loading Dock
San Leandro –Friday, Noon - 2 p.m., Main Entrance
Strike Vote Questions and Answers
1. Click Here for the Know My Rights Strike Fact Sheet (Print Version)
2. Click Here for a Comprehensive List of the Takeaways Proposed by AHS Management
3. Click Here for the Strike Vote Schedule (Print Version)
4. Can other union members honor our picket lines? YES! Click here for a document that explains their rights
We have been bargaining for 9 months, and AHS management has refused to bargain in good faith. They have proposed hundreds of pages of takeaways that include big cuts to wages, benefits, and patient care. AHS has rejected most of our proposals for a fair contract and a fair workplace and has even tried to limit things that are none of their business, like the number of union stewards we can have.
Your elected bargaining team is asking all SEIU 1021 AHS members to give them the authority to call a strike. All of us need to vote to strike to show AHS we back our bargaining team, we will not tolerate these unfair labor practices on their part, and will not allow cuts to patient care and our contract.
You must be a member of SEIU Local 1021 at AHS to vote. Members can vote at any location.
Strike Vote Schedule
Highland Hospital
Monday, Sep. 21 & Thursday, Sep. 24
New Courtyard
6:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
4th floor walkway between ACT and K buildings
9:30 p.m. - Midnight
Fairmont Hospital
Tuesday, Sep. 22 & Wednesday, Sep 23
Cafeteria
6:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Front of B Building
3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
11 p.m. - 1 a.m.
John George Psychiatric Hospital
Tuesday, Sep. 22 & Wednesday, Sep. 23
Loading Dock
6:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
11 a.m. -1 p.m.
3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
11 p.m. - 1 a.m.
San Leandro Hospital
Monday, Sep. 21 & Tuesday, Sep. 22
Main Building
6 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
10 p.m. - Midnight
Eastmont
Wednesday, Sep. 23
Inside Mall Top Floor
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Hayward and Newark Wellness
Wednesday, Sep. 23
Front Entrance
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Strike Fact Sheet
As we approach our strike authorization vote and the possibility of a strike, members have raised a number of questions. Here we answer some of the more common ones.
Why are we talking about a strike?
We have been bargaining for 9 months, and AHS management has refused to bargain in good faith. They have proposed hundreds of pages of takeaways that include big cuts to wages, benefits, and patient care. AHS has rejected most of our proposals for a fair contract and a fair workplace and has even tried to limit things that are none of their business, like the number of union stewards we can have. All of us need to be ready to strike to show AHS we back our bargaining team, we will not tolerate these unfair labor practices on their part, and will not allow cuts to patient care and our contract.
What’s the process?
Our bargaining teams would ask us to give them authority to call a strike. Then we vote. Only dues-paying members can vote. According to our union bylaws, a strike can be authorized by a simple majority of those who vote. The vote is a demonstration of our strength, so the more people who vote and the more people who vote to strike, the more pressure it puts on AHS to give us what we need.
If we give the bargaining team the authority to call a strike, they will be able to do so at any point afterwards, if that’s what it takes to win a good contract.
What makes a strike successful?
When we all act together, we are successful. It’s all about power: when all of us are united, we are strongest. If we can’t stay united, we are weak. The recent LA, Chicago, and Oakland teacher strikes are good examples for us: they all involved HIGH participation from union members. Teachers stayed united around their demands for better schools and fair contracts, and they forced their employers to back down.
I heard that we are not allowed to strike, and that there is a “no strike” clause in our contract.
The no strike clause in our contract is not in effect anymore because the contract has expired. As a result, we have a right to strike as public workers, and that right is protected by California law. California courts have found time and again that public workers have a right to strike free from retaliation.
Does AHS have to follow our expired 2017-2020 contract?
Yes, AHS still has to follow it, even if it is expired.
How long will a strike last?
The bargaining team will make that decision. We will give a 10-day notice prior to going on strike. The bargaining team will decide whether to issue a notice for an open-ended strike or one of limited duration.
If we vote to strike, will we strike at all AHS locations?
Yes. Members under all three AHS contracts, including the General Unit, the RNs, and the San Leandro Hospital members, will vote together and strike together. In addition, the California Nurses Association represents nurses at San Leandro and Alameda Hospital. They have been in negotiations with AHS for over a year, and will be holding their own strike votes soon. Other unions at AHS are likely to exercise their right to honor our picket lines.
If we authorize a strike, will we walk out right away?
No. A strike is serious business and requires preparation. In addition to organizing our coworkers, we’re reaching out to community allies and other supporters to ensure a successful strike action. After a vote to authorize a strike, we will also get our strike sanctioned by the Alameda Labor Council and approved by the SEIU 1021 Executive Board. The law requires a 10-day notice to strike in the private healthcare sector. In the interest of public health, we will give AHS a 10-day notice of our strike as well. This will give patients time to make other arrangements and AHS time to reschedule what they can and transfer patients out.
Do we have to notify our bosses that we are going on strike?
No. If a majority of members vote yes to authorize a strike, your elected union officers will give AHS management notice on all our behalf. We will give advance notice so that AHS can prepare to provide needed patient care.
Can I be fired or retaliated against for striking? Can we be permanently replaced or “locked out”?
No. The law protects workers who are exercising their right to take legal, collective action.
Can probationary employees strike?
Probationary employees have a right to strike. We will take steps to protect the right of probationary workers to strike. SEIU Local 1021 has held numerous strikes in recent years across Northern California and probationary employees have successfully participated in those strikes.
What does strike authorization mean?
A strike authorization vote means members vote whether to give the bargaining team the authority to call a strike when they believe the situation warrants it.
What will happen if I cross the picket line? Will the union sanction me?
There is no provision for “sanctioning” members who cross the picket line. But you should consider how crossing will affect your relations with your coworkers if they are out making sacrifices you will benefit from. If you cross the picket line, you are making it more difficult for us all to win a good contract.
Can we just call in sick during the strike or take vacation time?
Management is likely to be suspicious of a sick call on the day of the strike. A strike is not a day off. It is a different kind of workday, to protect our jobs and improve conditions for us and our patients. In the current contract, you have the option to sell back PTO if you need extra income instead of taking vacation time. We will win a better contract by showing our power with everyone on the picket lines.
When we are on strike, do we lose pay for that time?
AHS will not pay wages while we are out on strike.
Will the union pay us while we are out on strike?
No, we are striking for a fair contract and to win better conditions for our patients and all of us. AHS is planning wage freezes and cuts to benefits and patient care. Because they still won’t bargain in good faith after 9 months of bargaining, a strike is our final, strongest option to win a fair contract. Also, your AHS Chapter Officers are working on setting up a hardship fund for members who have a serious emergency during a strike.
What about my health benefits?
Health benefits are paid by employers month-to-month, so a strike of less than a month should not disrupt coverage.
What about my patients?
We will give AHS management and the public advance notice so that non-essential work can be postponed or cancelled. Because public health is a top priority, we will also create a patient protection team that will get a “pass” from the picket line and go to work if it is necessary.
How will I know if a strike is called?
We will use all available ways to notify our members. The best thing you can do is make sure your cell phone number and personal email address are updated here:
More Questions? Want to Get Involved?
Come to Your Right to Strike Q&A
Wednesday, September 16th, 6 p.m.
Saturday, September 19th, 10 a.m.
Zoom Invite to Follow
Management has proposed many cruel cuts that will make our working conditions worse and our community sicker. Read more here and here.
We have no confidence in AHS management. Our workplace is mismanaged and dangerous, and it isn’t serving our community’s needs. Our future depends on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors taking control over AHS.
We need to demand community control over AHS immediately. Sign your name to the petition today!
Click here to Sign the Petition
Check out the Alameda Labor Council’s letter of support! (Click here to download a copy and click on the image to toggle between the first and second page.)
On June 20th, the community and AHS workers in SEIU 1021 spoke up together, crying out “Put public health in public hands!” (Click the image to play the video.)
Our community rally and car caravan at San Leandro Hospital on April 29 brought frontline healthcare workers and the community together to call for Personal Protective Equipment for all and the protection of whistleblowers like our member who stepped up for public safety and was fired.
Covid-19 Update
[EDIT: Please click here to see the March 19 Covid-19 Bargaining Update]
March 16: We wanted to update you about rapidly changing conditions in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. We've been in touch with SEIU leadership and reviewing the latest information from government and public health officials.
Our first priority is to continue to do everything we can to provide the care our patients need and keep our members safe. We all know that AHS was understaffed and unprepared before COVID-19, and that we have constantly been asked to do more with less. This latest crisis is one more additional strain. We have demanded emergency COVID-19 bargaining with senior AHS leadership to advocate for what our members and patients need. We will update you as soon as we have more information.
We've made a quick survey for members to share your thoughts and concerns about what you need to provide safe, effective patient care. Please take a minute to fill it out to inform our priorities in advocating with AHS and the County.
In compliance with the state health directives to avoid large crowds, our March 26 rally has been postponed.
Tonight, Monday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m., SEIU Local 1021 President Joseph Bryant will address members directly online about this crisis. Click here to RSVP and receive a reminder, and go to seiu1021.org/announcement to see and hear the address.
Look for more updates and info on advocating for your patients and your co-workers via email, at our website AHSFight.org, via text, or on the AHS Fight Instagram or Facebook pages:
If you have questions or concerns, feel free to reach out. As with every challenge we face, we are stronger together.
Stop the dangerous and unsafe staffing at AHS. Provide the care and services our patients deserve.
Bargaining Team Nominees and Revised Election Schedule
We need to hear from you. Make your voice heard.
AHS Is Paying HMS to Deny People Healthcare
Want to know more about how and why AHS is paying their contract HMS to kick our co-workers’ families off of our healthcare plan? So would we! Read their heavily redacted scope of work here to find out how little AHS wants you to know.
Join the fight. Step up to help patients receive the care they deserve.