The Public Employees Union, Local #1, was originally founded in 1941 as the Contra Costa County Employees Association - Public Employees Union, Local #1. It was incorporated as PEU, Local #1 in 1985. Throughout its history, Local #1 has grown steadily. Currently, in a nine-county jurisdiction, it represents some 3,200 school employees and 4,200 public employees from other sectors of local government.

For a brief period in the 1960's, Local #1 experimented with an affiliation to an international union. Eventually, however, the members decided they wanted their dues money kept where the representational needs were, and voted to disaffilitate.

The principals upon which the organization was founded were simply: Control by the Membership; Representation for the Membership! From the start, an iron rule was agreed upon by the founders of the Union: a grievance takes priority over all other work. To this day, thousands of grievances later, this iron rule is still adhered to, unless the Business Agents are tied up in negotiations or a strike.

Local #1 has prevailed over time because it knows that working men and women in classified school and local government employment have basic rights, and these rights must be protected. By setting this pattern Local #1 was able, later, to affiliate counties such as Butte, Yuba, Glenn, Sacramento, Sutter and El Dorado.

1. A strong contract, which protects the rights of each worker, including a binding arbitration clause in every grievance and appeal procedure.

2. A sound basis for salary negotiations, which includes cost-of-living adjustments to assure that public employees keep pace with the economy.