Wednesday - Rally in Support of Palo Alto's "Temporary" Workers

Rally in Support of Palo Alto’s “Temporary” Workers
Wednesday, August 18
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Plaza
250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto

Background: Approximately 300 temporary or “hourly” workers currently work for the City of Palo Alto. Along with the approximately 600 permanent Union workers (SEIU Local 715), these temp workers are essential to providing countless services the residents of Palo Alto cherish and depend upon. Most of these temporary workers are far from temporary. Many have worked for five, ten, even twenty years for the City with no benefits, job security, voice, or respect. These workers are the City’s librarians, custodial workers, community center staff, park rangers, clerical staff, theater workers, recreation leaders, utility workers, and more.

Hourly and temporary workers have come together from departments across the City to organize their Union with SEIU Local 715. The Hourly Organizing Committee has collected signatures from a large majority of the temp workers supporting a union, which they will deliver to City Hall this Wednesday and demand that the City recognize the new union and begin negotiating a contract.

Community members, residents, faith leaders, and politicians play a crucial role in ensuring that the City management respect the workers’ right to organize, promptly recognize the Union when the Organizing Committee submits the petition, and begin bargaining immediately thereafter.

Let the City know you support the workers’ right to unionize and be treated in accordance with the service they provide to Palo Alto by coming to the rally on Wednesday and/or signing the community petition that you can find at:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/715hoc/petition.html

If you know ahead of time that you will be able to attend the rally, please drop us a line at ppjc [at] peaceandjustice.org

This campaign has been endorsed by Peninsula Peace and Justice Center.

If you have questions about the campaign, please contact Seth Newton at 408-954-8715, Ext. 178.