Solidarity Forever (for Some)

Today is the last day for many student assistants and retired annuitants working for the State of California. Under a furlough deal the Service Employees International Union Local 1000 made in June with Gov. Jerry Brown, all non-mission-critical student assistant and retired annuitant positions were to be eliminated August 31. According to The Sacramento Bee, the state won’t hire either during the 12-month furlough period that started July 1 for SEIU Local 1000 state employees. SEIU Local 1000 represents about 93,000 California state government employees.

I voted against the deal when it was put before the union membership in late June. I didn’t oppose being furloughed one day a month through June 2013. I vehemently opposed what I call throwing student assistants and retired annuitants under the bus.

I work for an agency office in which student assistants are invaluable, from answering phones and putting together news clips packages to designing brochures and editing promotional videos. I don’t know how SEIU Local 1000 expects our agency to hire young people with these talents as seasonal clerks or office assistants. There are perhaps a handful of graphics designer positions throughout state government. Moreover, college students sharpening their skills as scientists and engineers will find it difficult to get their foot in the door of state agencies.

As for retired annuitants, government retirees who return to state service with limited hours each year, they are a wealth of institutional knowledge. They are not taking away jobs from union members.

I think this move by SEIU Local 1000 is a way to generate more union dues by having students reapply under union-covered positions. Even if students hired for these positions don’t join the union, they would have to pay fair-share fees.

I find this whole situation ironic, considering the approach of Labor Day. SEIU Local 1000 has been mute on the issue since the vote. I believe this move to eliminate student assistants and retired annuitants will backfire on them when voters go to the polls in November to decide on California Proposition 32.

Writing Diva