Sonoma County Court Workers' Strike Enters 2nd Day

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Sonoma County Superior Court clerks, legal processors and reporters on Jan. 19 continued a strike that has closed all but three of 15 courtrooms at the Hall of Justice and courtrooms at the nearby Civil and Law Family Courthouse in Santa Rosa.

As they did upon launching the strike on Jan. 18, dozens of the 120 courthouse employees who are members of Service Employees International Union Local 1021 picketed again at the Hall of Justice in the County Administration Center. Some court language interpreters who are not on strike also walked the picket line.

Union members chanted, "Court administration, tricky and rude, we don't like your attitude."

The SEIU voted unanimously Wednesday evening to continue the strike today and are expected to vote again this afternoon on whether to continue it on Friday, Jan. 20.

Court administration personnel have been filling in for some of the striking workers, and members of the public appearing for traffic tickets have been told to return in 30 days, union members said.

Union spokeswoman Irene Rosario said negotiations on a new contract began in August. The old contract expired Sept. 23.

Rosario said court administrators offered employees a two percent raise and a one-time $500 stipend. Employees want an extra eight-hour vacation day and a cost of living adjustment whenever other courthouse
employees receive one, Rosario said.

"It's less to do with money and more about the way we are treated," said Sydney Ferris of Santa Rosa, a criminal courtroom clerk for more than 10 years. "We have complained about how we are treated for years and it's always our fault. Jose (Guillen, Court Executive Officer) is never wrong. Please be kind and show us compassion," Ferris said.

Guillen did not return phone calls for comment about the strike on either Jan. 18 or 19, according to Bay City News.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock