On December 1st, MEF-AFSCME Local 101 came together with our coalition partners in Local 21 to commemorate the historic victories of the Staff Up San Jose campaign. It was a night filled with joy, camaraderie, and the spirit of solidarity that defines our union.

Honoring the Wins: We took this moment to reflect on the significant achievements made possible through our collective efforts during the 2023 contract negotiations. The wins we secured will have lasting benefits for our members and set a strong precedent for the power of unity in labor.

Special Guests: Our celebration was graced by the presence of San Jose City Councilmembers Omar Torres and Domingo Candelas, whose unwavering support played a crucial role in our success. Their commitment to city employees and the labor movement was evident as they shared in our triumph.

Good Times and Good Vibes: The night was filled with laughter, great food, and union-hosted drinks that added to the festive atmosphere. The beats of good music kept the energy high, and a photo booth provided a fun opportunity for members to capture memories of the evening.

Effective January 1, 2024, the City of San Jose will no longer require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees. This decision aligns with the County of Santa Clara, which ceased its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for county employees on November 30, 2023.

The basis for the Policy Change: The City states that several factors influenced this decision, including the rapid emergence of new variants, the periodic release of COVID-19 boosters, the widespread availability of testing and treatment, high community vaccination rates in Santa Clara County, and lower hospitalization and death rates from recent COVID-19 surges.

Did you know that as a member of MEF, you have access to a free $1,250 legal services benefit PER YEAR? The Group Legal Services Plan, negotiated by MEF and paid for by the City of San Jose, is designed to offer you peace of mind and support in various legal matters. MEF is the only Union that has this benefit.

What Does the Group Legal Services Plan Cover? As a current full-time MEF member, you are entitled to $1,250 annually for a range of legal services, including:

• Wills and trusts

• Family law matters, including divorce and custody issues

• Adoptions

• Guardianship

• Debtor/creditor and other consumer problems

• Tenant problems

• Other civil matters

The plan extends beyond consultations, covering essential legal services such as document preparation, negotiating, mediating, and even representing you in court. Each year, your benefit resets, although it can’t be rolled over from year to year – so use your now! Don’t have a will? Make one. It’s free.

It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of our current MEF President, Cindy Harlin. Cindy has been an unwavering advocate for union values and workers' rights, and her retirement marks the end of a chapter filled with dedication and achievements.

Cindy's journey in the labor movement spans decades, including serving as a rank-and-file teamster before joining the City. Once with the City, Cindy's commitment to the labor movement continued, and she became an integral part of MEF, holding various key roles such as Steward, Chief Steward, and President, as well as various roles in Local 101.

In the ever-changing landscape of our union, Cindy stepped up during a transitionary time. As President, she ensured that

We're delighted to share a recent victory with you that reinforces the importance of union solidarity and standing up for your rights. This win not only highlights the strength of our collective voice but also ensures fair compensation for SJPL employees.

In the recent past, the City and San Jose Public Library (SJPL) rammed through a change to working conditions by opening library branches on Sundays. The City Council authorized some additional positions (not enough) for this effort, but SJPL didn’t wait until those positions were filled before proceeding with the change. The Union filed an Unfair Labor Practice as well as a grievance pertaining to how the change was unilaterally and unfairly made. The Union and the City were able to reach a settlement where the Union would drop its grievance and ULP charge if SJPL would agree to give library staff additional comp hours or cash depending on their FTE status.

However, despite an agreement in black and white, SJPL sought to misinterpret the settlement agreement reached between the Union and the City, impacting the compensation owed to employees. The recent dispute revolved around the definition of "eligible employees" who should receive compensatory time or a one-time non-pensionable payment, specifically those who had worked on Sundays.

Through our relentless efforts and negotiations

We wish to inform you of a change in the voting process for our upcoming MEF Chief Steward election. You should have recently received a letter at your mailing address on file, which notified you of the election for Chief Steward of MEF and introduced an online voting system called YOUnified. However, we have encountered several issues with the vendor, and so we had to make a last-minute change to stay within the rules of our election process outlined in the bylaws. We understand the frustration and confusion this may cause, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

To ensure the integrity and fairness of this election, we are making a necessary adjustment. The online voting, which was set to begin on Friday, is now being postponed and reformatted. In the coming days, you will receive another piece of mail at your home address, which will include a new notice of the election. Approximately 15 days after that, you will receive another piece of mail with a paper ballot for the Chief Steward election. We kindly ask you to use this paper ballot to cast your vote by mail. If you need to update your home address, you can email LaSonya Brown with AFSCME at lasonya.brown@ca.afscme57.org and provide her with an updated mailing address to ensure you receive a ballot and future communications.