Becoming Independent Workers Fight for Services for Disabled in Sonoma

* * MEDIA ADVISORY* *

for THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2007

SONOMA EMPLOYEES FIGHT FOR SERVICES FOR DISABLED

VOW TO PROTECT SAFE STAFFING &

CLIENT ADVOCACY BY ORGANIZING UNION


Who: Becoming Independent Union Organizing Committee and their coworkers

Michael Allen - Sta. Director for Senator Pat Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa)

Marty Bennett - Professor at Santa Rosa Junior College

Executive Director, New Economy Working Solutions

Ben Boyce - Coordinator of Living Wage Coalition of Sonoma County

Community supporters

What: Press Conference

Where: Corner of North Point and Corporate Center Parkway, Santa Rosa

(across the street from Becoming Independent's Main O.ce

at 1425 Corporate Center Parkway )

When: This Thursday, May 10, from 4pm–5pm



(Santa Rosa, CA) —On Wednesday May 9th, 2007 workers at Becoming Independent, a statefunded non-profit day and living services program for people with developmental disabilities, filed for an election for union recognition at the National Labor Relations Board, Region 20 in San Francisco. Workers are organizing a union with the Service Employees International Union, Local 1021.



Chief reasons for unionization are safe staffing, training, reducing turnover, and a voice with management so workers can safely advocate for clients. Turnover is a chronic problem, and the lack of a living wage and affordable health care has failed to keep trained staff.



On April 23rd, a delegation of workers notified their employer they were organizing a union. While the Chief Operating Officer Cami Weaver then committed that Becoming Independent would not interfere with their right to organize, managers have since interrogated, threatened and promised workers raises in attempts to interfere in the workers’ organizing efforts. SEIU 1021 has filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with Region 20 of the National Labor Relations Board in San Francisco.



Pr e s s Contac t s :

Thomas Dewar - (510)499-2213

Liz Perlman - (510)710-2366



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