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Welcome to Local 616!

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Local 616 represents public sector professional, clerical, and technical employees of Alameda County and the Alameda Co. Medical Center, as well as county-funded homecare workers and child care providers. The local was established in 1972, when members of the Alameda County Employees Association voted to affiliate with the Service Employees International Union, which was a member of the AFL-CIO labor federation. SEIU (along with six other national unions) left the AFL-CIO in July 2005 – ending 85 years as one of the federation's largest and fastest growing unions – to form the Change to Win coalition.

At the state and local levels, Local 616 is an active participant of the SEIU California State Council and still works closely with two AFL-CIO bodies – the California Labor Federation and the Central Labor Council of Alameda County.

  Local 616 Advocate: Special Local History Edition 

To know where you're going, you've got to understand where you've been. That's why this special edition of the Local 616 Advocate focuses on our history — the history of Local 616 and of SEIU. It's a fascinating story in its own right, but there's a more pressing reason for publishing an issue like this. The American labor movement is undergoing one of the most far-reaching transformations in its history, and with SEIU International restructuring itself internally as well, perhaps the only sure thing is that the Local 616 you're in today is not the one you'll be in this time next year.

So read on, see where we've been and what we've had to go through to get where we are. Then take part in the ongoing conversation about the future of your union and the American labor movement at these websites:

Change To Win  |  AFL-CIO "Strengthening Our Union Movement for the Future"  |  SEIU International

Download the June/July issue and all back issues of the Local 616 Advocate.

For a complete list of Local 616 staff (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses), see Contact Us.

The Executive Board is the top decision-making body of the local – members elected by members. It is comprised of 1) union officers elected by the entire local membership, and 2) delegates to the board (and alternates) from each chapter, elected by the chapter memberships. Executive Board members are elected to 2-year terms. The board meets the second Thursday of each month at the Local 616 office, 155 Myrtle St., Oakland.

2005-07 Executive Board Roster

The NSU Committee is a committee of the Executive Board charged with implementing the Local 616 New Strength Unity Plan. The NSU Committee meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Local 616 office, 155 Myrtle St., Oakland.

Local 616 NSU Plan: 2004 Report to the Members (PDF 620K)

Local 616 NSU Plan: 2003 Report to the Members (PDF 1.5M)

The Stewards Council is a voluntary advisory body that discusses and acts on workplace problems and issues, establishes steward standards and procedures, and offers training presentations at its monthly meetings. It meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Local 616 office, 155 Myrtle St., Oakland.

Visit the Stewards Council homepage for information about meetings, beginning and advanced steward trainings, our Shop Steward Leadership Guide, and other resources.

 Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride

 2002: Year in Review

 Local 616 from the Beginning