Crowds Roar For Union Members Demanding New Contract

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Hundreds of county workers packed the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors chambers Monday afternoon to address county officials for neglecting to meet their demands for a new, competitive contract.

Before the board met in closed session Monday, an open public comment session was held for the public to air out their concerns about the lack of a contract from the county for service workers represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 521.

Of the hundreds of people gathered - the vast majority of whom were SEIU Local 521 workers - dozens stepped up to the microphone to berate the board and county officials for denying the union's demands for higher wages and promises to fill open and vacant positions that have left holes in the county's labor force.

"I know too many coworkers working two jobs because day care is too expensive," Isabel Price, an employee of the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency, told the board. "I'm sorry to say that we are strike ready, and I hope you all realize that this will be a bad reflection on the county."

Now, without new contracts-since the old ones expired in June-12,000 unionized county employees are prepared to strike by the end of the week if the county doesn't make amends for the contract conflict.

The threat of another countywide strike, which could take place on Friday, was first announced by the union Sunday.

The crowd in the chambers roared their support for Teresa Nunes - a county worker of 18 years - after she told the board to think of her and her son sharing a 10-foot by 10-foot room because she cannot afford her own apartment in the county she lives in.

Then, board president Cindy Chavez warned the crowd that she didn't want to have to clear the room if things got too loud.

The crowd again hollered their support after Ruben Armas called out the county executive, Dr. Jeff Smith, for the county's repeated "last, best and final" offers, all of which the union has turned down at the bargaining table.

"Mr. Smith, you gave us your last and worst offer," Armas, a county medical assistant of 13 years, said. "Well, we're prepared to give you our last and best punch."

By the end of Monday's public comment session, the union members shouted their demands again as they left the chambers.

"What do we want?" some said.

"Contracts!" the rest answered.

Another call: "When do we want them?"

Another answer: "Now!"

And finally: "If we don't get it?"

They shouted: "Shut it down!"

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See also: 12,000 Santa Clara County Workers May Strike This Week