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Funding Stopped Furloughs
It has been a busy few months for SEIU 721 Superior Courts Division members. Hit with threats of increased furloughs and layoffs, members set out to win more funding for our courts.
And we did it. On May 23, dozens of SEIU 721 members joined court workers from across the state in Sacramento to urge lawmakers to increase trial court funding.
We convinced the Assembly to increase statewide court funding by $60 million, including more than $17 million for LA County Superior Courts.
Our work prevented 12-17 days of furloughs in LA County courts. It kept courts open and stopped layoffs in neighboring counties too.
Right now, SEIU 721 members are leading state legislators on walkthrough tours of LA County courts. We’re showing them exactly how budget cuts have made our jobs harder, hurt court operations and negatively impacted the public.
Our goal: win more court funding in 2014.
Legislative Walkthroughs
We’ve had two great walkthroughs so far: at the Criminal Courts Building with Assemblyman Ed Chao and at Metro Court with Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer. Next up: Pasadena, Norwalk, East LA, West Covina and more.
After talking to employees at Metro Court, Jones-Sawyer said: “California’s budget is looking better next year. That means, we will have more money for courts. I want to restore important services that make everyone’s lives easier.”
Donate to COPE
There’s something that ties all of this work together: COPE. Here’s what Executive Board member Arnella Sims thinks about it.
“We’re doing everything we can to restore our trial courts. COPE, your union’s political fund, is central to that. COPE is how we lobby Sacramento for more court funding. COPE is how we support legislation to save court jobs. COPE is how we elect representatives who understand our needs. Please donate to COPE today.
— Arnella Sims, LA County Superior Court Reporter
Download a flyer to post at your worksite.
For more information, contact Worksite Organizers Wanda Bellamy: (213) 610-2146 or Earl Thompson: (213) 300-5529.