Housing authority workers protest high caseloads, not working remotely

About two dozen Santa C la ra Count y Housing Authority union workers gathered in San Jose Saturday for a car caravan outside a board commissioner’s house, protesting what they describe as high caseloads and unfair working conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members of SEIU Local 521 met up early Saturday morning at Galarza Elementary School at Bird and Pine avenues, their cars decked out with signs like “Fair Contract,” before driving around the block of board commissioner Kathy EspinozaHoward’s home, honking as they went.

Since their three- year contract expired in June, workers said, management has tried to push higher ca seloads upon them — even after reducing hours — which makes it hard to keep up with clients. And meanwhile the 70 union members say they aren’t allowed to work from home like nonunion employees, making them fearful of COVID-19 exposures.

“It’s very, very stressful for us, because we want to get back to our clients quickly, but with the workload, it’s very hard to do that,” said Alma Gallegos, 54, who has worked at the department for more than 20 years and handles around 400 cases at a time. “Our caseloads are so big, and it’s not manageable.”

The Santa Clara County Housing Authority manages federal rental assistance programs, also known as Section 8 vouchers, for around 17,000 households a cross the county. Housing program managers oversee the flow of new and existing applicants, working closely with individuals and families seeking help.

When reached by phone Saturday, Housing Authority Executive Director Katherine Harasz acknowledged that workers feel pressed for time given their reduced si x- hour workday. But with about 3,400 people on the waitlist since 2006 for rental assistance, she said, the agency has an obligation to continue processing cases.

“This is a time when people feel they’re really in need,” Harasz said, adding of the negotiations, “I really believe that we can resolve whatever issues we have for the better of the community, and I look forward to continuing to meet at the table.”

Program managers were overworked before the pandemic, said Cory Noltensmeier, 46, a Livermore resident who has worked at the Authority for 15 years. But now management wants to increase workers’ caseloads to around 500 cases at a time, he said.

“With the higher caseloads, you get a community that isn’t served well, because we can’t provide the customer service that we used to,” Noltensmeier said. “What we’re trying to tell them is that it’s not conducive to a good work environment.”

Although workers have been told that their jobs require being in the office because they access private client information, other employees with the same access are allowed to work remotely, the union alleges. T hat prompted SEIU to file a complaint with the California Public Employment Relations Board about six weeks ago.

Harasz contends that the employees are more intimately involved in dayto- day case management, heightening the need for privacy, as compared to those who work remotely.

With contract negotiations ongoing, SEIU has hosted two previous car caravans this fall at the homes of Housing Authority leaders, including the deputy executive director and the chair of the board.

As the car caravan circled the block, several neighbors came outside to observe the com motion— although the commissioner herself was not among them. Resident Nima Pakravan, 42, said that he supported the cause but was frustrated that his quiet Saturday morning had been disrupted.

“I don’t know how I can help them,” Pakravan said, adding, “I would be very supportive of what they need to do… but I wish they would have picked a different method to do this.”

Workers said that getting the block’s attention was exactly what they aimed to do.

“It’s one day for him, and it’s been nine months for us,” said worker Iris Sanchez.