San Francisco court clerks have ratified a new contract following a one-day strike during the Bob Lee trial, addressing staffing and training issues.
During the trial, the clerks made it clear they were serious about their concerns. They felt that their heavy workloads were leading to real problems in the justice system. Just a few months back, 70 misdemeanor cases were tossed out because the courts couldn’t keep up.
Now, that strike is behind them. The clerks have ratified a new contract with an impressive 84% approval. Kimberly Septien, the president of their union, highlighted the unity and strength of the clerks in this process.
The new contract does include a pay increase, but the main focus is on ensuring clerks aren’t forced into roles they aren’t trained for. They’ll also get more training for new positions and will be notified 60 days in advance about any new tech being introduced.
These changes are crucial, especially since the clerks pointed out that their backlogs were contributing to issues at the SF County Jail. Some detainees were stuck there for weeks or even months waiting for their trials.
