No takeaways. This is what SEIU Local 521 Monterey County employees won at the negotiating table on Friday after they held press conferences, presented millions in budget solutions, and carried out a series of rolling unity demonstrations and rallies. This is an important victory in light of the Monterey County administration's claimed $125.7 million deficit over the next three years.

SEIU Local 521's negotiating team wasted no time switching gears to save services and jobs this same afternoon by demanding and holding the first of many ongoing meetings regarding 'alternative solutions to layoffs.' They learned that Monterey County's proposed service and 43 job cuts could be saved with less than $4 million in budget solutions. Fortunately, the Local union's budget solutions provide the board multiple options to achieve this number while protecting jobs and maintaining essential services. (You can read Local 521's budget solution report here).

The 'no takeaways' contract that will secure the workers' health insurance, income, and retirement will not final until the public employees vote yes at their ratification vote. (Details about vote will come shortly).

SEIU Local 521 represents more than 52,000 workers. Local 521 workers specialize in home care in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and public sector services from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Central Valley. More at http://www.seiu521.org