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Home My WebLink AboutCorrespondence - CS Item 5 Flores, Dora From:Ryan Murillo <Ryan.Murillo@seiu721.org> Sent:Tuesday, July 15, 2025 3:50 PM To:eComment Cc:Amezcua, Valerie; Phan, Thai; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Bacerra, Phil; Hernandez, Johnathan; Penaloza, David; Nancy Robles SEIU 721 Santa Ana President; Navarro, Jorge; ANTONIO CARRILLO; Sandra Cortez; Carmen Acosta Subject:Letter of Concern: Termination Practices for Part-Time Employees in Violation of MOU Attachments:Cease and Desist - Parks and Recreation.pdf Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links. Dear Members of the Santa Ana City Council, I am writing on behalf of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721, as the representative for part-time non-civil service employees in the City of Santa Ana, to express serious concern regarding recent practices in the Parks and Recreation Department involving the termination of part-time employees. Specifically, we have received reports of terminations being communicated verbally over the phone, which we believe constitutes a direct violation of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and undermines the rights and due process afforded to our members. As outlined in the 2022-2024 MOU between the City of Santa Ana and SEIU Local 721 for the Part-Time Non- Civil Service Employees Unit (SEIU-PTNCS), extended through May 15, 2025 with potential further extensions, Article VIII, Section 8.1(B) explicitly requires a review process for terminations. For employees with less than five years of service (or 5,200 hours), the employee may request a review with the Department Head or designee prior to the effective date of the action. For those with five or more years of service, this review is mandatory, and they may further request review by the City Manager or designee before the termination takes effect. These provisions ensure that terminations are handled with proper notice, an opportunity for discussion, and adherence to due process, which cannot be adequately fulfilled through informal phone notifications. Additionally, Article XI, Section 11.1(L) stipulates that any discharge, suspension, demotion, or other discipline must be for proper cause and in accordance with the City Charter and Santa Ana Municipal Code. Abrupt phone terminations bypass these safeguards, potentially exposing the City to grievances under Article IX, which provides a structured procedure for addressing violations of the MOU, including timely meetings and final binding decisions by the City Manager. Such practices not only violate the spirit and letter of our agreement but also erode trust between the Department and its employees, many of whom dedicate significant time to supporting community recreation programs. We urge the City Council to investigate this matter and direct the Parks and Recreation Department to immediately cease this practice and ensure all future terminations comply fully with the MOU's requirements, including advance written notice and the opportunity for pre-termination reviews. If specific incidents have already occurred, we request a prompt investigation, including potential reinstatement or corrective actions for affected employees. We are prepared to file formal grievances if necessary but prefer to resolve this matter collaboratively. 6 Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss this issue and schedule a meeting to address our concerns. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to working together to uphold the terms of our MOU and maintain a positive working environment for all part-time employees. In Unity, Ryan Murillo Worksite Organizer, LA/OC Ci?es Team SEIU Local 721 Cell: 213/321-3776 Email: ryan.murillo@seiu721.org SEIU Local 721 Member Connec?on: 877-721-4968 From: Ryan Murillo Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 12:35 PM To: hscott@santa-ana.org; ddurham@santa-ana.org; Schnaider, Lori <lschnaider@santa-ana.org> Cc: Jenita Igwealor <Jenita.Igwealor@seiu721.org>; Charles Leone <Charles.Leone@seiu721.org>; Kanani Nevels <Kanani.Nevels@seiu721.org>; Nancy Robles SEIU 721 Santa Ana President <nroblespresident2025@gmail.com>; Jorge- Navarro <jorgenavarrojr@gmail.com>; ANTONIO CARRILLO <acarrillo65@msn.com>; Nunez, Alvaro <anunez@santa- ana.org>; Carmen Acosta <carmenacosta53.ca@gmail.com>; Sandra Cortez <cosa.89unemp_07@aol.com> Subject: Letter of Concern: Termination Practices for Part-Time Employees in Violation of MOU Dear Hawk Scott, I am writing on behalf of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721, as the representative for part-time non-civil service employees in the City of Santa Ana, to express serious concern regarding recent practices in the Parks and Recreation Department involving the termination of part-time employees. Specifically, we have received reports of terminations being communicated verbally over the phone, which we believe constitutes a direct violation of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and undermines the rights and due process afforded to our members. As outlined in the 2022-2024 MOU between the City of Santa Ana and SEIU Local 721 for the Part-Time Non-Civil Service Employees Unit (SEIU-PTNCS), extended as of January 2025, Article VIII, Section 8.1(B) explicitly requires a review process for terminations. For employees with less than five years of service (or 5,200 hours), the employee may request a review with the Department Head or designee prior to the effective date of the action. For those with five or more years of service, this review is mandatory, and they may further request review by the City Manager or designee before the termination takes effect. These provisions ensure that terminations are handled with proper notice, an opportunity for discussion, and adherence to due process, which cannot be adequately fulfilled through informal phone notifications. Additionally, Article XI, Section 11.1(L) stipulates that any discharge, suspension, demotion, or other discipline must be for proper cause and in accordance with the City Charter and Santa Ana Municipal Code. Abrupt phone terminations bypass these safeguards, potentially exposing the City to grievances under Article IX, which provides a structured procedure for addressing violations of the MOU, including timely meetings and final binding decisions by the City Manager. Such practices not only violate the spirit and letter of our agreement but also erode trust between the Department and its employees, many of whom dedicate significant time to supporting community recreation programs. We urge the Parks and Recreation Department to immediately cease this practice and ensure all future terminations comply fully with the MOU's requirements, including advance written notice and the opportunity for pre-termination reviews. If specific incidents have already occurred, we request a prompt investigation, including potential reinstatement or corrective actions for affected employees. We are prepared to file formal grievances if necessary but prefer to resolve this matter collaboratively. 7 Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss this issue and schedule a meeting to address our concerns. I can be reached at 213-321-3776 or ryan.murillo@seiu721.org . Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to working together to uphold the terms of our MOU and maintain a positive working environment for all part-time employees. In Solidarity, Ryan Murillo Worksite Organizer, LA/OC Ci?es Team SEIU Local 721 Cell: 213/321-3776 Email: ryan.murillo@seiu721.org SEIU Local 721 Member Connec?on: 877-721-4968 8 Via Email Date: July 11, 2025 SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, CTW, CLC Hawk Scott OFFICERS David Green Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR City of Santa Ana Simboa Wright 20 Civic Center Plaza, M-24 VICE PRESIDENT Lillian Cabral Santa Ana, CA 92701 SECRETARY Adolfo Granados TREASURER Dear Hawk, DIRECTORS LA COUNTY Ileana Meza I am writing on behalf of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) VICE PRESIDENT Jerry Clyde, Jr. Local 721, as the representative for part-time non-civil service employees in VICE PRESIDENT the City of Santa Ana, to express serious concern regarding recent practices in Sandra Beltran Lydia Cabral. the Parks and Recreation Department involving the termination of part-time Cynthia Carreon Kelley Dixon-Turner employees. Specifically, we have received reports of terminations being Ruby Dye Markeitha Harris communicated verbally over the phone, which we believe constitutes a direct Omar Perez Jose Sanchez violation of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and undermines the Grace Santillano Theresa Velasco Sharonda Wade rights and due process afforded to our members. Cythia White Kelly Zhou LA/OC CITIES As outlined in the 2022-2024 MOU between the City of Santa Ana and SEIU Jose “Joe” Martinez VICE PRESIDENT Local 721 for the Part-Time Non-Civil Service Employees Unit (SEIU-PTNCS), Saundra Dixon VICE PRESIDENT extended as of January 2025, Article VIII, Section 8.1(B) explicitly requires a Sylvia Alvarado review process for terminations. For employees with less than five years of Dion Cornelius Chermaine Fontenette Bruce Hicks service (or 5,200 hours), the employee may request a review with the Eric Noreen Theodore Sanchez Department Head or designee prior to the effective date of the action. For Victor M. Vasquez those with five or more years of service, this review is mandatory, and they TRI-COUNTIES Ariana Robledo may further request review by the City Manager or designee before the VICE PRESIDENT Grace Sepulveda termination takes effect. These provisions ensure that terminations are VICE PRESIDENT handled with proper notice, an opportunity for discussion, and adherence to Esperanza Barajas Mary Birch due process, which cannot be adequately fulfilled through informal phone Sandra Diaz Yuri Gomez notifications. Amy Sagar Maria Zavala INLAND AREA Additionally, Article XI, Section 11.1(L) stipulates that any discharge, Christopher Jones VICE PRESIDENT suspension, demotion, or other discipline must be for proper cause and in Meghan Boyd VICE PRESIDENT accordance with the City Charter and Santa Ana Municipal Code. Abrupt Oracio Diaz phone terminations bypass these safeguards, potentially exposing the City to Catalina Guitron Barbara Hunter Roger Nuñez grievances under Article IX, which provides a structured procedure for Staci Richards Maria Sneed addressing violations of the MOU, including timely meetings and final binding Tara Stoddart decisions by the City Manager. Such practices not only violate the spirit and BOARD RETIREE Myran Cotton letter of our agreement but also erode trust between the Department and its employees, many of whom dedicate significant time to supporting community http://www.seiu721.org recreation programs. Member Connection (877) 721-4968 We urge the Parks and Recreation Department to immediately cease this practice and ensure all future terminations comply fully with the MOU's requirements, including advance written notice and the opportunity for pre- termination reviews. If specific incidents have already occurred, we request a prompt investigation, including potential reinstatement or corrective actions for affected employees. We are prepared to file formal grievances if necessary but prefer to resolve this matter collaboratively. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss this issue and schedule a meeting to address our concerns. I can be reached at 213-321- 3776 or ryan.murillo@seiu721.org . Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to working together to uphold the terms of our MOU and maintain a positive working environment for all part-time employees. Sincerely, Ryan Murillo Worksite Organizer, LA/OC Cities Team SEIU Local 721 Cell: 213/321-3776 Email: ryan.murillo@seiu721.org SEIU Local 721 Member Connection: 877-721-4968 Cc: Jenita Iqwealor, Regional Director, SEIU 721 Charles Leone, Coordinator, SEIU 721 Nancy Robles, Santa Ana Chapter President Carmen Acosta, Part Time Director, Board Member Sandra Cortez, Part-Time Director, Board Member Santa Chapter Board Santa Ana Part-Time Members