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.

Today, we are thrilled to share some exciting news and seek your valuable support for a cause that profoundly impacts us—our workplace, our rights, and our future.

MEF and the AFSCME Local 101 Executive Board has voted and proudly endorse Councilmember Domingo Candelas for re-election to the San Jose City Council in District 8.

Domingo's unwavering commitment to the welfare of City employees has been nothing short of exceptional. His advocacy, particularly during the Staff Up San Jose campaign, played a pivotal role in securing the success and benefits we achieved. Without his dedicated efforts, our contract victories would not have been possible. Period.

Now, as we stand at a crucial juncture, facing contenders backed by substantial financial support, we need to ensure that the voice of City employees continues to be heard on the City Council.

This is where your individual support becomes invaluable. We are reaching out to our community—YOU, the backbone of our great city—to contribute whatever you can to Domingo's re-election campaign. Whether it's $20, $30, or any amount you can spare, your donation will directly impact the future of our workplace and the city we proudly serve. Our opponents have the money, but we have the people. If we all chip in a little, we’ll win.

Donate Now: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/domingoforcouncil

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.

This Halloween, hand out these sweet treats made by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers’ International Union members around the country.