r/CAStateWorkers • u/statieforlife • 7h ago
SEIU (BU 1, 4, 11, 14, 17 and 20) Those of you who are considering not striking because of ‘financial concerns’ should be the first, and loudest, ones on the picket line.
First off, let me say I have empathy for those struggling financially right now. Prices are skyrocketing and wages are stagnant and each month I see my savings account shrink and shrink. I don’t think it’ll ever recover. And I know how fortunate I am that I even had one to begin with.
But not striking because you can’t take the financial hit, is the most short-sighted thinking possible. And it’s exactly what the state wants.
It’s union-busting 101. They know the strike will hurt us. They are betting it’ll hurt us more than it’ll hurt them.
If you think losing a few days salary, maybe a week, now would hurt? Think about how much zero percent raises, 5 days a week RTO, will hurt you over the next three years? Because, trust me, it’s going to hurt a lot more than the strike. This is simple math people!!
Members:
Vote for the strike, commit to striking.
Non-Members:
Join the union, or at least you can still sign the commitment to strike!!
Remember, this was never going to be easy. It’s about standing strong.
88
u/PreparationFinal7566 6h ago
I'm hurting SO bad financially right now. Keep hurting more and more, living on credit, etc.
I cant afford to strike.
But like others said, I REALLY cant afford not to.
I'll be on the picket line, joined the union, committed to the strike.
See you out there.
20
7
1
5h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator 5h ago
Sorry, your account must be older than 3 days to post in this community.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
62
u/Superb_Hornet9105 6h ago
Short term pain for long term gains!
26
u/statieforlife 6h ago
Absolutely. The math is just so simple.
If it was easy everyone would do it!!
1
41
u/Ok_Win_5678 6h ago
I am a single parent of 3 and was barely holding things together before RTO. Barely. Now costs have increased on top of expenses for commuting, and zero raises? I literally cannot afford not to strike.
Will we get a raise if we DON’T strike? Pretty much 0% chance based on ridiculous CalHR “negotiations”.
We have a much stronger change to bargain meaningful increases, etc, if we band together and strike.
We really can do this.
18
u/statieforlife 6h ago
Exactly. Things can either be tough for a few weeks/months, or they can be tough for the next three years.
It’s a shit situation, but there’s only one choice. I appreciate you sticking with us thru hard times.
39
u/BFaus916 6h ago edited 6h ago
No one could ever afford a strike. It's a sacrifice for greater good. The more of us out there the faster it goes.
25
34
u/POTUS-isa-POS-1138 6h ago
100% agree. I know I'll be on the picket line because actions speak louder than words, so stop whining and stand up for yourselves...you may commence the downvoting.
20
41
12
u/St4tikk 5h ago
For those with 5+ years left think of how much even 1% will have made you over the rest of your career. If you can manage in any way the financial pain of a strike will more than pay for itself in the long run.
6
u/statieforlife 5h ago
All you have to do is think beyond 1-3 months from now, and you’ll see there’s only one logical option.
11
u/No-Hat-6488 5h ago
I was literally thinking about this today. How I literally can’t afford to strike and have been pinching pennies the last couple of months. I’m a single mom with a son in daycare. But I’ll be striking nonetheless. CalHR and Newsom have been playing in our faces for far too long.
9
3
u/pumpkintrovoid BU 1 3h ago
Welcome to Costco, I love you. But for real though, thank you. I’m fighting for you, for me, for all of us with my vote and commitment to strike.
For every one of us who can’t afford to strike but also can’t afford not to, LFG!!!! ✊💜✊💜
16
u/ChasingTheNextShot 6h ago
Yes thank you for stepping up and saying this. We all need to be united.
We need to vote yes to authorize the strike and stand up for our rights to a fair contract. We need raises. We need to end RTO. We need to have the state cover the increasing healthcare costs.
We can do this together.
6
11
u/Significant_Theme500 5h ago
I have my art supplies and cardboard ready for my STRIKE SIGNAGE!!! Lets FG!!!!
4
9
7
u/DecentSecret6078 5h ago
No one can afford to strike. Believe me, I know. My pay check is gone by mid month and I'm surviving on credit cards, not because I'm extravagant but because of mortgage rates, food prices, gas prices, RTO. I don't eat out at all. I can't remember the last time I bought new clothes, went to the movie theater or treated my kiddos.
At the same time I can't afford not to strike. Not striking means accepting the status quo.
It doesn't help that our so called leadership mocks our purple shirts and attempts to stand up for a basic standard of living. Although it does help. It makes me more determined to fight.
3
u/statieforlife 5h ago
Can’t afford not to strike is where every worker should be. And the more people who finally grasp that, the stronger we will be on the picket line
6
u/Pure_Fly_1396 6h ago
Here’s a newb question- what happens when you’re only 3-6 months into probation for your position? My understanding is that you’re protected but I’m not sure on this
26
7
u/statieforlife 6h ago
Join the union and get their recommendation, I’m not an expert. I also believe you should be fine, just stay safe, document, and do everything by the book.
13
u/Pure_Fly_1396 6h ago edited 6h ago
I joined the union! Was unclear about if it’s covered or not. Obviously I should ask my rep or have gone to strike school but alas I’m a goofball
12
4
3
3
6
u/Jealous-Warning6193 5h ago
In 2016 salaries were extremely low!
I believe we had a strike authorization vote and my classification had a substantial increase in salary.
You have to know where you have been to know where you are going.
7
u/Christopher8791 6h ago
I have heard from a couple people they are worried about being fired if they don't show up to work for the strike.
24
u/statieforlife 6h ago
They are misinformed and don’t know their rights.
Again, it’s the exact type of miscommunication the state is betting on.
-10
u/grouchygf 6h ago
Im not worried so much about being fired, but promotions are extremely competitive where I'm at. There's a handful of us in the running for various promotional opportunities but a strike, especially when there's very little union support, could be a deal breaker.
8
u/statieforlife 6h ago
Grouchy, not that I’d ever expect you to support your fellow workers over the capitalist state so why am I even bothering, but if you’re at a place that will base promotions off who was a scab. Putting it above your work ethic, your actual work performance, is a shitty place to work.
You shouldn’t want to promote there, girl. It sounds toxic.
6
u/grouchygf 6h ago edited 6h ago
Of course it's toxic. But we're never micromanaged, time off is always approved, we still get our 1 day tele, which is unheard of where I'm at. Im in the middle of nowhere-- its not like Sacramento or LA where we can just simply apply to other departments or offices.
Will I strike? Probably. I understand the importance. More importantly, I'm presenting a perspective that a large chunck of SEUI members face.
4
u/statieforlife 6h ago
I understand the validity of your argument, I do, just like I understand the validity of those who don’t want to have to choose between a strike or a missed car payment.
But, when you look at the long term outcomes, striking is the only option with even a chance of a positive outcome. You said yourself you understand the importance. You understand what happens if we don’t win.
1
u/Norathaexplorer 6h ago
I am concerned about the same thing. I want a strike, but a position just opened above me that I’ve been waiting a long time for, and I’m unsure on how to proceed… :(
10
u/Perfect-Top-7555 6h ago
This is why people should be part of the union. Yes it costs $ and time to participate but you get what you pay for.
7
u/BFaus916 6h ago
Protected by federal law. If the strike vote passed and the strike is declared, you can not be fired or face retaliation for participating.
6
u/SeaweedTeaPot 6h ago
Managers understand. If not, you probably don’t want to work for them. If we get raises, it flows up to them. If we get telework, they probably do too. You are protected and it’s illegal for them to use strike status against you, and just dumb overall.
8
u/OutsidePattern6491 6h ago
I’m not going to judge anyone because they “can’t take the financial hit.” We don’t know everyone’s situation and shaming someone into striking when it may mean they can’t pay for daycare or rent that month isn’t fair. A financial hit to some people could be life altering.
11
u/BFaus916 6h ago
It's going to he life altering for everyone out there. The more of us out there the faster it goes.
12
u/statieforlife 6h ago
And you think settling for 0% raises for the next three years, not to mention the added cost of RTO, you think that’s not life altering??
I have empathy, and am under no illusions that it’ll be easy, but if we all don’t strike together it doesn’t work. Only those who can afford to strike should strike? Come on, that’s silly.
So yes, I am out here saying nobody should cross the picket line. End. Of. Story. If you want any hope of not living month to month, we must all stay strong together.
-8
u/grouchygf 6h ago
1) A strike does not guarantee a pay raise. I truly believe the state will hold firm on this. 2) Most of SEIU aren't affected by RTO. Understand this.
There public doesn't hate state workers, they hate unions. Unions control the governor, and both in good faith. Hilton is pointing this out and the public is watching. I don't see the state budging right now.
5
u/DecentSecret6078 5h ago
RTO is just one small part of what we're fighting for. Consider our zero percent pay rise while living through a cost of living crisis
-2
u/grouchygf 5h ago
Hot take, but only raising wages has never been the answer. The real issue is all the terrible policies which are taxing us, regulating us, and pricing us into oblivion. The solution is to get checks and balance back into our legislature so us middle-classers can actually get some representation.
4
u/Espressoterica 5h ago
I’ve seen it reported that public support for unions is the highest it’s been in many years. And it seems most of the public recognizes that we’re all workers and our fortunes (eventually) rise and fall together.
4
u/statieforlife 6h ago
You voted for Trump three times so I don’t know why I’m wasting the effort. You’re obviously not a credible source on anything political.
It’s nearly half of SEIU affected by RTO, so your sentence there is slander.
I don’t think Newsom will budge, but I think Nov 5 Becerra will budge.
0
u/grouchygf 6h ago edited 4h ago
I did not vote for Trump 3 times. You know nothing about me. Politics are not "all-or- nothing", my friend.
"Nearly half" are affected and "most are not affected"... that's the same thing. "Most" and "majority" mean over 50%.
You might be right, but I disagree. I think giving into they unions will make Becerra appear "weak"or "bought." But who knows... the strike won't even happen until after the election, so maybe I'll be wrong.
Just a non-circlejerk opinion, not an attack. Don't get your panties twisted.
5
u/statieforlife 5h ago
And I know you aren’t alone in the opinion, I’m not trying to paint you as such.
But, while the strike guarantees nothing, there is nothing to be gained by not striking. That’s just a certainty to things not getting better.
3
u/grouchygf 5h ago
That's true.
But more than anything... I'm suprised and glad that you can decipher through all my typos. Geesh. New phone, huge screen. The swipe-text sucks. Sorry.
1
u/OwlX77 4h ago
That’s the problem with this sub — they hate and attack people with any opinion different than their own. The fact they want to shame people who can’t take the financial hit, the fact they tell people on probation to strike as if managers can’t find another way to dismiss them, the fact they distort the reason for the strike as compensation when it’s driven primarily by wanting full time telework….they seem like selfish spoiled assholes. Telework is not the mountain to die on, and most state workers agree with that despite the echo chamber in here. If they had the choice between a 20% raise or telework, this sub would overwhelmingly choose telework.
0
u/sparklywrx 4h ago
this isn’t a labor union bro. What are you going to do? Slash their tires? I was a union painter for years. We have large labor contracts for a reason. This strike wi make noise even if some people don’t participate which WILL happen.
2
u/Jealous-Warning6193 5h ago
That’s short sighted to the max, respectfully I disagree.
Take a look at your salary history on calhr. Look at what happened in 2016/17. Strike vote authorization happened I believe and many salaries had a big jump in pay.
If anything, take a look at the whole picture.
1
u/Interesting_Tea5715 4h ago
Yeah, the Reddit hivemind has decided that you're terrible if you don't strike.
IMO I think people should be entitled to not strike if they don't want to. I'll be out there on the picket line but I'm not gonna villainize those that don't. I don't know their situation.
2
u/Lanky-Yellow-3189 4h ago
All this talk about striking and holding the line, I've got a question. Will the union hold true to what they're asking? 20% isn't much but it beats the 10% that was settled upon in the last contract. If we settle for another 10% in this contract, that's 3%, 3%, and 4%. Regardless of where the 4% comes in, union dues already cost 1.5% of our pretax paycheck. Subtract that to what the 3%, 3%, and 4% brings, we'd still be well under the cola raises required for standard living. It'd be 1.5%, 1.5% and 2.5% effectively. If we even settle for 10% or let the union settle at a lower amount, it'd still be a loss in our pockets. If the union doesn't stick to their guns on getting state workers "what state workers deserve" I'm leaving the union after negotiations and will rejoin when it affects my pockets again. If they get us the 20%, you can bet that I'll stay as a member.
2
u/JShenobi 3h ago
Bundling in the union dues with the raise amounts is conveniently forgetting that union dues cap out after $6000/month gross pay, which is the latter end of the Analyst I pay scale and any Analyst II. Yes, there are classifications that are wholly under $6k/month, but Analyst I and II are some of the largest classifications, if not the largest, in the union.
1
u/lifesurprises 3h ago
Not sure how that math of yours work. Union fees are a fixed amount right? Not a percentage. Even if they were it would be 1.5% of the said 3%, 3% and 4%. Which come out to be 0.045%, 0.045% and 0.06%. it is miniscule.
1
u/Incrediblecodeman 4h ago
I don’t think it’s wise to manipulate people into making a potentially devastating financial mistake. No one use credit cards to “get by”
1
u/herefirthestories 3m ago
Do I lose health insurance during the strike, if I strike? I am pregnant and not sure what people who need daily health insurance have planned? Thank you for clarification!
-8
u/Aellabaella1003 6h ago
This is an incredibly insensitive post. You have no idea what consequences missing pay will cause for some. If striking causes someone to miss rent and be evicted, or default on a car loan that is their means for getting to work, or not be able to feed their kids, who are you to judge them and tell them, "its worth it".
7
u/statieforlife 6h ago
You don’t seem to have any idea what the consequences will be for laying down and accepting three years of 0% raises, of all the added costs of RTO as prices continue to skyrocket.
I know you can do math Aellabaella tell me which one is more financially devastating. Go on.
Then tell me how not striking stops them from living paycheck to paycheck and makes their life any better. I’ll wait.
-4
u/Aellabaella1003 6h ago
You can make those decisions for yourself. You don’t get to make them for others. You don’t get to decide which consequences are “bad enough”.
7
u/statieforlife 6h ago
There’s a right choice and a wrong choice.
Because doing nothing, and skirting short term pain, isn’t going to make their life any better.
If you think telling someone not striking is the better choice, it’s simply not true and you have to see that. Or you understand math far less than I think you do.
-5
u/Aellabaella1003 6h ago
You don’t get to decide which choice is the “right” choice for others. Only for yourself.
5
u/statieforlife 6h ago
What is this a “your truth” vs “my truth” argument? There’s one truth here lady.
There’s only one choice that has even the possibility of a better outcome. There’s only one choice that is even remotely, logically, “right.”
5
u/Aellabaella1003 6h ago
I’m sure there are many who will disagree with you on what is “right” for them. Just because you say, “I have empathy, but….” doesn’t mean you actually do. Posts like this will only backfire. Keep it up…
8
u/statieforlife 6h ago
And all someone has to do is look at your comment history to really see which one of us has empathy for their fellow workers.
0
u/Aellabaella1003 6h ago
Tell that to all the people I’ve successfully mentored to get jobs and promotions.
-12
u/readtheinstructions5 5h ago
I am not doing it, I already resigned from the Union over this bullshit . I am not the only one who believes this. We had no work from home days before COVID, now we have one. You all knew it would come to an end sooner or later and planned for it
2
u/statieforlife 5h ago
Everything you said is incorrect and backwards.
But, ignoring that, your happy with no raise as inflation eats us alive? That’s crazy.
-7
u/readtheinstructions5 5h ago
Oh bullshit everyone wants to strike because they hate RTO. I see people are trying to change the narrative though now
7
u/epsonstyles 5h ago
You have no idea what you’re talking about it. I work from home 5 days a week and while it’s very important, we have been screwed the last 6-7 years with raises.
5
u/statieforlife 5h ago
Is it too hard for you to comprehend that maybe it’s two things.
But also your backwater comments on RTO, thanks for bringing us back to them, are so backwards.
I bet you wouldn’t say what did people do before computers, you should all have been ready to go back to paper spreadsheets. What did you do before electricity, you dumbasses shouldn’t have thrown out all your candles.
That’s how silly you sound.
-8
u/readtheinstructions5 5h ago
Keep on trying to gas light me you are as bad as MAGA, probably are one
2
u/statieforlife 5h ago
I know Trumps made it hard to understand these days, as a lying racist rapist, but sometimes me just telling you facts, are facts.
It’s not gaslighting just because you disagree or don’t like it 🤷
0
-4
u/sparklywrx 4h ago
Yeah tell that to my $4500 mortgage.
I voted yes and happily support those able to fight. It I can’t afford not being able to pay my mortgage that I worked my ass off to get at 31.
While I would love that, I will unfortunately be at my desk assisting the operations while most of my team likely strikes.
•
u/AutoModerator 7h ago
All comments must be civil, productive, and follow community rules. Intentional violations of community rules will lead to comments being removed and possible bans, at the discretion of the moderators. Use the report feature to report content to the moderator team.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.