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We Are United!

Local 2028 and Local 535 are Local 221 as of March 1, 2007. The members of the two San Diego locals came together as part of the California Unite to Win plan that was passed by a 88% majority of members in October 2006.

Our new union gives us new opportunities. As the largest public sector union in San Diego and Imperial Counties, we are stronger and more powerful at the bargaining table, in the political arena and in the community. And, in an era of unprecedented outsourcing in the public sector, uniting our local SEIU unions allows us to more effectively defend the wages, health care and retirement benefits of our members, as well as facilitate continued growth.

As one united union we can strengthen members’ voices in the workplace to solve problems, raise workplace standards, and improve their working lives. Workers across the region will be able to coordinate and support each other on common issues like wages, pensions, health care, retiree benefits, and staffing. And we will be able to combine and share resources so that we can strengthen our communications and education programs, improve our technology systems, and help the many unrepresented workers join with us.

United, we are stronger together. We are Local 221.


Local 221 FAQs

 SEIU Local 221 is the newly chartered SEIU public services local in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Local 221 unites members of former Locals 535 and 2028—a combined membership of nearly 12,000 workers in local government, schools, public non-profi

Unite to Win

In 2000, delegates to SEIU's convention endorsed a New Strength Unity Plan to increase union strength by uniting locals by geography, employer and industry.

Service Employees International Union History

In 1921, members of seven small janitor unions dared to dream they could build their strength by forming a single organization, the Building Service Employees International (BSEIU). The BSEIU, a union of mostly immigrant workers chartered by the then-AFL, changed its name to Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in 1968. Chicago-based Local 1, SEIU’s first local union, is still organizing janitors and security officers today.