(Tues. 4/28, 11am) “What is the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee?” With CCSF Bond Oversight Committee Member AJ Thomas
On Tues. 4/28 at 11am AFT 2121 invites you to attend a teach-in on the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee.
This Committee is responsible for reviewing expenditures related to the District’s Bond expenditures. The Committee meets four times a year. Members have the opportunity to tour recently completed projects and project sites in construction. Committee members receive information and updates on bond-funded projects in progress throughout the District. The Committee produces an Annual Report to the Community, providing information about the District’s bond-funded projects and conformance of financial expenditures with the voter-approved ballot measures.
AJ Thomas is a new Committee member and the Chapter President of IFPTE Local 21, AFL-CIO. He will explain what is ahead for the Committee and answer questions.
(By Wed. 4/29) Survey: Students’ Needs in Times of COVID-19
AFT 2121 is collaborating with SF Rising and SF United in Crisis to assess how college students are adjusting to the changes necessary under Shelter-In-Place so that we can better help them. We know many students may have logistical challenges with respect to food and shelter, and may also be having challenges in the transition to remote learning.
Please ask your students to take the survey.
AFT calls on District to resume impact negotiations
With shelter-in-place immanent, District administration engaged AFT and quickly reached a “hold harmless” agreement to ensure that faculty would be paid and continue benefits through the Spring semester. However, new questions have emerged amidst CCSF’s economic uncertainty and possible restrictions on face-to-face learning. What kind of instruction will occur in the Fall? What about faculty pay and the July 1 step increase and scheduled pay increase per the 3rd year of our contract?
Most importantly, these issues are negotiable; the District cannot impose new conditions of employment without negotiating with the Union.
Our team plans to engage District administration soon and to draw on some of our members to testify as to conditions including training in online instruction, potential site closures, extension courses, noncredit, Fall semester class schedule, and more.
In the meantime, stay engaged, reach out to your Precinct Rep or Union Officers with questions and concerns. We will report back as negotiations progress.
Union elections underway
AFT elections are underway and continue online through Friday, May 8, for AFT officers, Reps-at-Large, and delegates for the 2020-2022 term. (Union elections are not to be confused with Academic Senate elections, which are also underway. ) If you have not received or cannot locate your election notice and ballot, contact Electionbuddy.com for assistance by emailing them at aft2121@electionbuddy.com.
As of now, 323 members have voted with 12 days of voting left. Be sure to cast your vote for Union leadership!
(4/30) Close 850 Bryant Hearing: Public comment needed
AFT 2121 has endorsed the No New Jails Coalition’s ordinance drafted by Supervisor Fewer’s office to permanently close 850 Bryant. The ordinance is now heading to committee review. We invite AFT 2121 members to speak or submit public comment during the Government Audit & Oversight (GAO) Committee hearing this Thursday at 10am.
While the GAO is run by three supporters of the ordinance (Peskin, Haney, and Mar), the Sheriff and others are mounting a strong opposition to the ordinance. The facility at 850 Bryant has been unsafe and dangerous for over 20 years and the ordinance addresses most of the severe problems with the jail. More info: People’s Summary of the Ordinance.
(5/1) Rent strike action
Last week, the AFT 2121 Delegate Assembly voted to endorse the statewide efforts to cancel rent. On Friday you can join the SF May Day Car Caravan to #CancelRent, Mortgage & Utility Payments and Demand #HomesForAll and a #DebtFreeFuture with tenants, homeless residents, workers and families! (traducción al español a continuación)
When: May 1st, 12-2pm
Where: Meet-up spot is the parking lot at Alemany Farmers Market, 100 Alemany Blvd.
This will be a safe & physically distant multi-location rally
Everyone in attendance should use a face covering for safety, and not exit their cars unless they are 6 feet apart from those around them. Bring gloves, masks, sanitizer, and any hygienic products that can ensure your safety as well as the safety of others.
Why:
The COVID-19 pandemic has further unveiled the deep inequality in our economic and housing systems. Workers without job security, paid sick leave, and health insurance also usually lack housing security. Even before the pandemic, 40 million U.S. households were paying over a third of their incomes for housing, and half a million people were living on the streets. In California the numbers are worse – renters make up almost half of the population of the state, and 55% of them are considered cost-burdened, with low-income people and people of color suffering the worst instability. It doesn’t have to be this way! We have enough housing units to safely house everyone!!!
As a historic 22 million workers filed for unemployment in the US in the last four weeks, we are demanding legislators provide immediate relief by cancelling rent, mortgage and utility payments NOW and establish emergency housing for those without the ability to safely shelter in place. Prioritize our lives NOT real estate and corporate profits!
Residents can’t follow Governor Newsom’s call to “Stay Home, Save Lives” if they don’t have a secure home, or if they fear future evictions or homelessness should they not be able to make their rental or mortgage payments. Current temporary eviction moratoriums without rental forgiveness will leave many facing insurmountable debts and will mean that any wages one is able to secure will be redirected to the real estate industry. We refuse to let this recovery be on our backs! Tenants, workers, houseless residents and families are standing together for Homes for All and a Debt Free Future!!!
[More details about the demands, which are part of a national movement: https://cancelrent.us/demands]
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