Eleven protesters were removed from San Francisco City Hall and detained this afternoon after calling for an increase in nonprofit contractor funding as the board of supervisors meeting was set to begin, a chief deputy said.
As the board of supervisors convened, dozens of members of SEIU Local 1021 and their supporters entered the chambers chanting.
The union, which represents over 54,000 employees in local governments, health care programs, schools and non-profit agencies in Northern California, released a statement challenging the Board of Supervisors budget allocations.
The union said nonprofit contractors will receive only a 1.5 percent funding increase this year.
According to union officials, many for-profit corporations that contract with the city, such as commercial real estate investors and landlords, are receiving the equivalent of a 2 to 3 percent increase this year.
At today’s meeting, protesters chanted “Supervisors can’t you see, inequality is killing me” and held signs reading “end the double standard, equality for nonprofit workers.”
San Francisco Board of Supervisors President David Chiu sounded his gavel to begin the board meeting, but protesters continued to chant.
Some protesters then kneeled down on the floor in an act of civil disobedience.
San Francisco Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Kathy Gorwood said sheriff’s deputies subsequently removed 11 protesters from the meeting in plastic cuffs.
As the 11 protesters were escorted from the room, additional SEIU members and their supporters around the room continued to chant, “Can’t survive on 1.5,” referring to the 1.5 percent increase, which union members argue is too low.
Deputies escorted the remaining protesters from the chamber to allow the meeting to proceed.
Gorwood said the 11 people were detained for disruption of a public meeting. They were then checked for warrants, cleared and all were released without arrest.
No injuries were reported, Gorwood said.
Hannah Albarazi, Bay City News
