SF court workers hold one-day strike

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Superior Court workers with Service Employees International Union Local 1021 are holding a one-day strike today, union officials said.

The workers set up picket lines around the city's courthouses this morning and are alleging that court management is bargaining in bad faith.

SEIU Local 1021 filed charges with the state's Public Employment Relations Board alleging that the court has refused to bargain over mandatory issues, withheld information from the union so it can bargain properly and has threatened the jobs of union members at the bargaining table.

San Francisco Superior Court officials were not immediately available for comment this morning, but when the union last month authorized a potential strike, court officials said that courtrooms would stay open during a work stoppage.

Court officials said they believe a strike is unlawful under its current contract with SEIU Local 1021 because it contains a no-strike provision. The contract took effect Dec. 5, 2012, and expires on June 30, 2015.

Under its current contract, SEIU members received a one-time $3,500 payment, followed in July 2013 by a 3 percent cost of living increase, court officials said.