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Four Santa Rosa, California City Council candidates are facing sharp criticism for signing a pledge with the Service International Employees Union 1021, the county's biggest union. The pledge promises signees' public support and encouragement of organizing efforts, among other things. Other city council candidates refused to sign the pledge asserting that it goes beyond the ethical scope of city council member duties. Many also expressed concerns over the agreement being in writing, but signers claim the document isn?t legally binding, that it?s about workers' choice rather than taking orders from the union, and that it "balances the playing field" between labor and business since many council members are influenced by real estate developers. SIEU 1021 represents 2,700 workers in Santa Rosa.