California Public Union OKs Strike Authorization

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE57020X20090801 ^ | 8/1/2009

[GVnana]

California public union OKs strike authorization

Sat Aug 1, 2009 7:55pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's largest state employees' union voted on Saturday to approve a strike authorization measure to protest furloughs of state workers and pressure state officials to ratify its labor contract.

A spokesman for Service Employees International Union Local 1000 said a strike was not imminent but that the vote authorized union officers to initiate certain job actions, including a strike if necessary.

The SEIU represents about 95,000 state employees, including clerical workers and teachers.

The group's labor contract with the state expired last year, SEIU spokesman Jim Zamora said. The union negotiated a new deal with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration in February, but the contract has not been ratified by the state Legislature.

Earlier this week, the Republican governor signed a bill that closed a more than $24 billion budget gap. Under the legislation, furloughs will continue for state workers for three days a month, cutting their pay by 15 percent.

[GVnana]

Figures.

[coloradan]

All it would take is one really big earthquake to set things straight over there.

No I didn’t mean it that way.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Please, pretty please go on strike.

[Frantzie]

SEIU - the illegal alien union which is part of ACORN. Arnold should have a PATCO moment as he loves Reagan. Lots of unemployed would love those jobs.

[InterceptPoint]

What if they went on strike and nobody cared?

[SierraWasp]

The inmates are running the assylum... YES THEY CAN!!!

[BuckyKat]

Something very close to this is going on in Hawaii as well. There’s running commentary on the two newspaper sites, government workers versus nongovernment works. Wish ours were threatening a strike. That would save the state more money than even the furloughs!

[Seaplaner]

...a strike authorization measure to protest furloughs of state workers and pressure state officials to ratify its labor contract.

There aren't many examples of perfect stupidity, but this is that rare one.

An SEIU strike will prove to the good citizens of the Golden State that their members are generally non-essential; and that furloughs could be extended permanently.

The union "leaders" for all their pot-banging threats and hyperbole will never remind their peeps about those other unions who went on strike. Those unions, to wit - major league baseball players and air traffic controllers, actually did something we value; and yet, we not only did fine without them...we held the union members in vicious contempt for their irresponsibility and vastly inflated self-importance.

So if the players of our national pastime and the controllers of our air traffic do not penetrate our radius if fear, then just how could, say, a clerical for the Coastal Commission going to rate anything but a spiteful "fire them" from our citizenry?

He or she simply could not.

As a former (and involuntary) member of a union, I was always amazed as to how the membership never really realized that union leaders never assumed any of the risks to which they exposed their members.

If there are firings due to strikes, the union bosses will remain unaffected.

.

[DennisR]

Typical group of union people sucking on the people’s teat - selfish, narcissistic, navel-gazing, liberal idiots.

Note to the Governator: Become the Terminator!

[Brugmansian]

SEIU spokesman Jim Zamora Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

No...I didn't think so.

[Regulator]

We can only hope they go on strike.

Most California "workers" administer the welfare state. Once the mooches and deadbeats have no one to hand over the cash to them, they'll just leave....but not without a few well staged temper tantrums.

Everyone else will notice that not only does it not matter to them, but life will actually be easier without a bunch of busybodies screwing with them night and day.

And the one group that will really be screwed are the illegal aliens and their enablers who populate SEIU. They think they have the gringos over the barrell with their snarfy little union, but the illusion will evaporate when the state people just shrug and say, "no money, idiots".

Gosh, it could be a nice summer after all.

[Yorktownpatriot]

Wouldn’t -11Bama look cute parading around with his Seiu comrades with a picket sign?

[max americana]

What took em’ so long? As long as they stay away from my commute, they could protest all they want.

[vaudine]

The state is broke and some of it is the union's fault. Many other states are feeling a crunch. NH is mandating 18 days unpaid for state employees in the next two years. They will be planned in conjunction with holidays so people will have a nice, albeit unpaid holiday.

CA has indulged itself in enviro whackiness, and illegal pandering for so long, they have lost touch with reality.

vaudine

[Carry_Okie]

As long as they stay away from my commute, they could protest all they want.

If the bureaucrats stay home, your commute should go far more smoothly.

[samadams2000]

My God fire every last one of them.

[MarineBrat]

Strike, you bas**rds, and don’t come back!

[RavenATB]

If a California public union member went on strike, how would anyone know? There is no more/less productive work done standing on a picket line than sitting in a government cubicle.

[Mr. Peabody]

How can workers for the government be in an international union? They shouldn’t be in any union!

[rolling_stone]

some info seiu

STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: Is it legal for state employees to strike?
In a case brought to the California Supreme Court by SEIU in 1985, the court held that
strikes by public employees are legal in California. In its ruling, the Court said only
strikes that are expressly forbidden by law or that threaten the public health or safety
are illegal. Since the 1985 ruling, there have been scores of legal strikes by workers in
cities, counties and school districts throughout California.
Q: How can we strike if our contract contains a “No Strike” clause?
If an employer’s unfair labor practices leave the union no option but the “last resort” of
striking, then state law provides that the strike can be legal even if a contract contains a
“No Strike” clause, as our does.
Q: Can I be fired or disciplined if I participate in job actions or a strike?
The state cannot discipline anyone who participates in a legal and protected job action
or strike. As an added protection, Local 1000 will ensure that any resolution includes
an amnesty clause—a provision guaranteeing that members who participate in a strike
will be protected from discipline or adverse administrative action by the state.

http://www.seiu1000.org/Assets/AssetContent/56c29e54-7567-49b2-8681-f686122a4f66/546bfa9e-94e2-495f-9d30-54cc81f55e47/2fd5cd6e-a36a-4921-91c6-ee2091c673fa/1/09-1606%20Strike%20Auth%20Q%20&%20A%20v4.pdf

http://www.seiu1000.org/

[dalereed]

” Lots of unemployed would love those jobs.”

Don’t replace them 1 for 1, I suggest 1 for 5 with a stipulation that they remain non union and without any fringe benefits!

[rfp1234]

SEIU? See You! (And don’t let the door hit your @$$e$).

[Bigh4u2]

Well that would be all fine and good if they had a contract.

They don’t.

So their ‘talking points’ mean nothing until the state ratifies the contract.

[Jim from C-Town]

Prime opportunity to FIRE every last one of them. That ought to balance the budget. After wards they can decide not to replace most of them and thereby see how many they really need.

[rolling_stone]

So their ‘talking points’ mean nothing until the state ratifies the contract.

I believe generally the old contract would stay in place while negotiating a new one, but I don't buy the talking points that they can strike despite "no strike clause" First they would have to prove a substantial unfair labor practice, and the governor has already declared an emergency so I think they would lose unlike Hawaii, Next their talking point that they will ensure an amnesty clause is BS, they can't ensure squat they can only negotiate it, IMO. Terminator needs to put them on termination notice, there are only so many Wal Mart greeter jobs out there for fired strikers..lol. Who is going to hire a fired striker in this economy? They show lack of common sense by that act alone.

Should they strike and picket I bet they would be met by unemployed counter protesters begging for their jobs!

..."Local 1000 will ensure that any resolution includes an amnesty clause—a provision guaranteeing that members who participate in a strike will be protected from discipline or adverse administrative action by the state."...

[Jim from C-Town]

Since when does a contract in OBAMERICA mean anything. If you think that contract is worth the paper it is written on, I have some GM, and Chrysler bonds I would be happy to part with.

[Bigh4u2]

Although most of what you say is true and makes a lot of sense, this line from the article states there is no contract.

“The group’s labor contract with the state expired last year, SEIU spokesman Jim Zamora said. “

So without one, the ‘options’ don’t exist.

Especially this one....

“.”Local 1000 will ensure that any resolution includes an amnesty clause—a provision guaranteeing that members who participate in a strike will be protected from discipline or adverse administrative action by the state.”...”

[rolling_stone]

....”The state maintains that terms of the union’s expired contract that prohibit striking remain in effect. The union disagrees.”....

http://www.sacbee.com/latest/story/2036009.html

[willk]

I wonder who counted the ballots. 74% sounds suspect to me.
Would be interesting if someone did a poll on how state workers actually voted. I also wonder how they would vote if they had a choice between layoffs and elimination of a few of the furlough days.

[Bigh4u2]

Sounds like the Union doesn’t want to honor the old contract and the state is trying to force them too.

Either way, there isn’t a contract, per se, but that wouldn’t stop the union or the state from claiming there is if it’s to either ones benefit.

[rolling_stone]

its a mess, but if they strike I think they would get no public sympathy or support kinda like the banksters bonuses, people out of work are looking for scapegoats.

If the Air traffic controllers had struck with Carter in they might have succeeded, but with Reagan it was adios, we shall see what the Terminator does!

[Bigh4u2]

All we can do is cross our fingers and wait.

I’d love to see the SEIU go out of business.

But that’s probably just wishful thinking..

:)

And on that note, it’s 2 am so it’s my bed time.

Have a good night FRiend.

[SkyPilot]

What if they went on strike and nobody cared?

These Democrats could shrivel up tomorrow, and no one would miss them.

They are a legend in their own minds.

More examples:

I can't stand these people. When I went to my children's "Teacher Nite" (yes, that is how they spelled it) last October, we were bombarded with leftist crap. There were Obama stickers all over the walls (with one McCain sticker to show us how "fair" they were). My kids had to go to some BS "ethics" class that was nothing more than Liberal Propaganda.

Then, the fat lesbian Principal (not slander - she is a lesbian) lectured the parents on why we should vote "YES!" on a multimillion dollar bond issue so they could go "green" and install solar panels on the roof.

In December, we voted and told them all to go to hell.

I really would not care if they were all unemployed and living off garage sales. They are collectively a greedy, leftist, and self-righteous lot.

May they suffer.

[mewzilla]

Sigh.