Labor roller coaster, continued...

The news from the SEIU / SFUSD negotiations is not good. Mediations sessions have more or less broken down, and the union is indicating that a strike is likely. They have also asked Mayor Newsom to intervene to help break the deadlock. The main sticking point appears to be family health benefits, as well as the timing and size of a modest raise. Yet, it is hard to know what is on the table. According to the Chron, both sides are still trading proposals.

The union is threatening a strike with only 24-hour notice. Dennis Kelly of the teachers union promises that teachers will not cross an SEIU picket line. Meanwhile the district continues to negotiate. They have rejected a prior proposal to use Newsom as a mediator, though circumstances may be different now.

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The Examiner's most recent article is from 10/4, Service workers ask mayor to intervene:

Calling for Mayor Gavin Newsom to intervene, union representatives for 1,200 cafeteria, custodial and clerical workers in The City's public schools announced Monday that contract negotiations between the San Francisco Unified School District and the service employees union had failed.

The Chronicle's most recent article is from 10/5, Mayor offers to help schools labor talks:

Mayor Gavin Newsom said Tuesday he would help negotiate labor peace between the San Francisco Unified School District and its custodians, secretaries and cafeteria workers to avoid a strike -- but there was mixed reaction to the offer.

Leadership of Service Employees International Union 790 -- which represents 1,200 school workers -- has urged Newsom to take a formal role in negotiations, but the infamously divided Board of Education is again split over whether it wants him involved.

Leaders of SEIU 790 said this week a strike is "extremely likely" and that they would give a 24-hour notice before taking to the picket line.