Fresno County Members Are Involved

March 2012

Service Employees International Union, CTW-CLC

5228 East Pine Avenue, Fresno CA 93727 ���� 559/447-2560 ���� FAX 559/261-9308 ���� www.seiu521.org

On Tuesday March 6, 2012, the Board of Supervisors approved to adopt a Resolu�on that March is Social

Worker Apprecia�on Month in Fresno County. The Social Workers that were selected and recognized as

going above and beyond in providing services to the families, who come from the most vulnerable

popula�on of our community and County. These Social Workers shown were from all phases of the Social

Worker Programs. Great Job County Social Workers for your

dedica�on and commitment to our Community it is a very difficult

profession and this was just a small token for the work well done,

Congratula�on all Social Workers of Fresno County.

Pictured are not necessarily in order - Chris�na Ybarra – Teen Parents

Program, Linda Jacobs – IHSS Program, Efren Gonzalez – APS Program,

Joanna Torres – Reach Program, Kameka Magee – ER, Yvonna Carter –

ILP, Shane Wilson – Permanency Planning, Cynthia Be,ancourt –

Reunifica�on, Susan Fosdick - Reunifica�on.

Maria Kril – Social Work Practitioner and the President of Unit 3 has entered the race to run against District 5 Supervisor Debbie Poochigian. And on March 20, 2011 at a Town Hall hosted by SEIU Local 521 that was attended by SEIU UHW, SEIU Local 1000 and members of all three unions voted to endorse Ms. Kril as our candidate. This is a grass roots campaign and will take a lot of volunteers to help turn out the vote for our sister Maria Kril. Let’s all help in trying to elect one of our own, who will be able to stand up for all the workers who make Fresno County and the services we provide viable.

Contact Jesse Lifton at jesse.lifton@seiu521.org or (559) 447-2578 to get involved!

SEIU Local 521 Union Office UNITY HALL

April 11 at 5:30 p.m. 5228 E. Pine Ave., Fresno

The imposed contract ends on June 30, 2012.

Please attend this important meeting on April 11 to discuss

the Fresno County Bylaws

WE NEED ALL FRESNO COUNTY MEMBERS INPUT!

This is the LAST & FINAL Bylaws meeting before presenting to the SEIU Local 521 Executive Board and members for a vote.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION FOR NEW BYLAWS

CHAPTER STRUCTURE: � Review of Classifica�ons, Shi0s & Loca�ons of Workers

� Bargaining Team Elec�ons

� Discussion on Chapter Strike Fund & PACE

Thecouncilisopentoallaccountclerks,jobspecialists,of�iceassistants,

eligibilityworker,substanceabusespecialists,AppealsSpecialists,

programtechs,socialworkeraides,Supervisorsandallthemembersthat

helpprovidetheseessentialservicestothepublicwhoneedsthem.

It is important that we act now to shape the future of Eligibility Work. If we do not get involved now , somebody will shape

our future for us. The people that do not understand our work and are quick to assume workers are to blame for

challenges with the current eligibility system are the ones making recommenda�ons for changes, such as call centers, tasks,

banked cases and a proposed budget cut of 1.4 billion to CalWORKs.

Member Involvement – Makes a difference: Sacramento Lobbying:

Shirley Dillard, an Eligibility Worker in Fresno County, along with other 521

members went to Sacramento on February 9, 2012 to meet with Will Lightbourne,

Director of the California Department of Social Services, as well as members of the

County Welfare Directors Associa�on of California, to provide feedback to improve

our eligibility system for Medi-Cal and CalFresh!

Assembly Budget Hearing on cuts to CalWORKs

When cuts in the state budget threatened one of our most successful programs that

puts Californians back to work, SEIU 521 eligibility workers stood up.

And the tes�mony they gave in Sacramento saved CalWORKS!

“Realizing that we were able to make a difference, it’s overwhelming,” said Jennifer

Jensen, a job specialist from Fresno County who tes�fied about the impact the

budget cuts would have had.

CalWORKS helps get people to work so they don’t depend on cash aid from the government, Jensen explained. But the

budget cuts would have �ghtened eligibility and made it impossible for many families to succeed in the program, leaving

more of California’s children in poverty and more adults out of work.

Eligibility Worker Shirley Dillard told the Assembly budget commiCee that the cuts would have a severe impact.

“These are people just like us, they’re working people, they’ve never been on assistance before,” she said. “You can’t do

this to people when there are no jobs out there.” “I was talking from my heart and from experience. They felt the passion I

had for my clients.” While Dillard and Jensen spoke to the budget commiCee, Job Specialist Lorenzo Lambaren and

Eligibility Worker Belinda Oceguera, both from Fresno County, and Erica Payne, from Tulare County, joined them to lobby

individual legislators.

“It was important to speak for those that can’t speak for themselves,” Jensen said. Jensen came away excited that the

voice of the member maCers. “The people in Sacramento hearing our voices, it works,” she said.

Eligibility workers and job specialists from Local 521 who made the trip to Sacramento to fight for CalWORKS pose with State Sen. Michael Rubio Left to right: Lorenzo Lambaren –JS, Shirley Dillard-EW, Senator Rubio, Belinda Oceguera-EW, Erica Payne-Tulare Co., Jennifer Jensen-JS

OurSEIULocal521ExecutiveBoardhasof�iciallyrecognizedtheEligibilityWorkerIndustryCouncil.This

makesEligibilityWorkerseligibletohaveadelegateandalternatedelegateonour521ExecutiveBoard.

The Eligibility Worker Industry Council is open to all account clerks, job specialists, of�ice assistants,

eligibilityworkersandallmemberswhohelpprovidetheseessentialservicestothepublicwhoneedsthem.

Formoreinformationgotowww.seiu521.organdclickon“AboutSEIU521”andthenclickon“Caucuses,

Committees,andIndustryCouncils.”

Fresno County Newsletter March 2012 DV:lem opeiu29 afl-cio 2012 © SEIU521/CTW-CLC

Thanks to all of you that helped out during negotiations. It took members standing strong standing strong standing strong standing strong and standing united standing united standing united standing united to help make a difference during Fresno County negotiations. Thanks to those of

you that stepped up and unselfishly sacrificed your time by becoming Contract Action Team Members, Strike Team Captains and Leaders. You helped your Brothers & Sisters by stepping up getting out valuable information to members at the work sites. Your participation resulted in the

many successful work site actions.

This strike action would not have been as successful without your This strike action would not have been as successful without your This strike action would not have been as successful without your This strike action would not have been as successful without your dedication and team work!dedication and team work!dedication and team work!dedication and team work!

Abby Rivera Adrian Jones Al Akins Alice Standow Alisha Diaz Alysia Bonner Ana Martinez Angelica Rowe Angelica Torres- Olazaba

Anita Harper Anita Karsh Anna Moreno Armando Zepeda Arvelia Cooper-Whigham

Audrey Carter Barigye McCoy Beatrice Clark Beau Heffron Belinda Ocegura Betty Montemayor Bill McKinney Bonnie Smith Brandon Hill Brandy Mayfield Brenda Flores Brian Murillo Buddie Zink Carlos Rodriguez Carmen Moralez Carol J. Neff Cathy Rivera Cecilia Tatum

Celeste Johnston Cheri Schwanbenland Cheryl O'Connor Christina Chapparro Cindy Deis Cindy Grijalva Claudia Candler Clyde Gosser Concepcion Valdez Connie Phetvixay Corliss Stanfield Cynthia DelaCruz David Chavez David Duarte David Garrett David Nixon Dawn Fowler Dawn Gallegos Deborah Amen Deborah Miranda Debra Cooper Debra Perez Demetrio Campos Denise McFiren Diana Calderon Diane Cortez Diane Lopez Dianne Dunkel Donald Hollins Elia Morales Elizabeth Ridley Elizabeth Stone Eva Hernandez Fletcher Davis

Frankie Dorsy Freda Montez Gabe Mata Gary Neff Geoff Smith Grace Cantu Heidi Perez Henry Aguirre Henry Lopez Herminia Guitron Isaac Lopez Isabel Rosales Jack German James George James Hackett James Ramirez Janice Tucker Janie Hernandez Jeanne Valdez Jefra Gay Jennifer Garcia Jennifer Jensen Jeri Nowak Jerome Freitas Jim Windsor Joanala Gonzalez John Adams John Jasper John Ramirez Joy Sentman-Paz Kassandra Holdsambeck

Kelly Mannion Kevin Westbrook

Kim Hull Latoya Hilton Laura Basua Leah Ramirez Lenora Licon Leticia Castellanos Linda Shipley Lisa Garrett Lisa Lindsay Lois Ratzlaff Loren Weins Lorenzo Lambaren Loretta Moran Lori Sigala Lori Tindall Lucy Perez Lupe Fernandez Lydia Vallejo-Gomez Margie Gomez Maria Elena Baller Maria Kril Marie Cortez Marilyn Osborn Mark Berner Marla Mitchell Martina Navarrete Megan Wong Melinda Garvey Melissa Harris Melissa Harris Michael Eliyas Michelle Ronsley Michelle Shorey Miguel Rivera

Monica Flick Nance Espinosa Nicole Avendano Nola Tamayo Norma Perez OC Ocegura Pam Scribner Pamela Crumpler Paula Groves-Coleman

Phonesavanh Anoulack Rachel Rostro- Lybarger

Randolph Oaxaca Raquel Vidal Rebecca Renovato Rebecca Rodriguez Rene Vega Richard Hernandez Richard Solis Richard Streets Rita Rodriguez Roberta Kelley Roberto Hinojosa Rogenia Cox Ruben DeSantiago Ruth Aliser Sandra Hearnes Sandra Molina Sandra Schillaci Sandra Stroud Scheree Lau Sharon Clinton

Shaun Johnston Shawndonna Kelso Sheryl Robledo Shirley Dillard Shirlie Beers Silviano Parra Sonya Smith Stephanie Howard Susan Gonzales Suzanne Galindo Sylvia Barrera Sylvia Rodriguez Tamara Nash Tammy Fellows Teri Gonzalez Theresa Villadolid Thomas Jones Tim Gomez Uneka Wilson Veronica Rodriguez Vicki Landin Vickie Pound Victor Resendez Victoria Sumler Vincent Perez Willie Price Yolanda Dinwiddie Yolanda Flores Yolanda Ledesma