SEIU Local 1021 and Supporters take Protests to City Hall

By Emilia Flin/APRISF Staff Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO - Hundreds of people could be seen gathered on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall on March 5th late into the afternoon. Many among them were SEIU Local 1021 members but supportive people from the community matched that number, including those from the Community Based Organization A. Philip Randolph Institute San Francisco.

The rally was organized as a show of protest against the wage cut for 45 job classifications; jobs predominantly held by people of color and women. Community and Union members alike argue that this policy undermines if not eradicate the Pay Equity laws implemented in 1986 to correct the discriminatory wage disparities in city government.

A Hearing will take place on March 6th 2013 at 1:00PM to review the City’s policy of comparable worth and historic efforts to eliminate pay inequities based on race. It will also review the current wage cut plan by the Department of Human Resources.

Protestors were passionate in their objection to this policy. Picket signs were paraded and community members made speeches upon City Hall’s steps for all to hear. Executive Director of APRISF Jackie Flin also spoke of rectifying this policy, commenting on the historicity of jobs that are held by women and people of color are typically paid less than those held by men, and that we cannot let this backwards-thinking history repeat itself.