Union busting allegations took center stage at the recent San Francisco government meeting, as representatives from SEIU Local 10-21 voiced serious concerns regarding the Felton Institute, a contractor receiving over $14 million in city funding for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Workers from Felton, which provides early education and childcare services, reported a troubling pattern of retaliation and intimidation against those attempting to unionize.

Union representatives highlighted that Felton has engaged in union-busting activities, including hiring a corporate anti-union law firm funded by city dollars. The National Labor Relations Board has found merit in several unfair labor practice charges against Felton, including the termination of employees for union activities and intimidation tactics against workers displaying union insignia.

Hector Jimenez Cardenas, a union representative, emphasized the stalling of contract negotiations for over a year, describing how Felton has bullied predominantly women of color workers who care for San Francisco's children. He noted that Felton's actions have undermined the bargaining process, particularly after the organization unilaterally implemented a new wage matrix that affected nonunion teachers before negotiating with union members.

The meeting also revealed alarming health and safety violations at Felton's facilities, including a gas leak at a childcare center that went unaddressed for over a year, exposing both workers and children to potential danger.

As the meeting concluded, the union representatives called for immediate action to address these issues, urging the city to reconsider its funding of Felton until the organization commits to fair labor practices and resolves ongoing contract negotiations. The implications of these discussions could significantly impact the future of labor relations in San Francisco's early childhood education sector.