The City Administration Issues
Unacceptable Ultimatum During Mediation
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At our first mediation session on Tuesday, July 23, the City Administration handed our bargaining team a take-it-or-leave-it package. Their offer contained a wage proposal that would not keep up with the cost of living or help us fill the City’s 600+ job vacancies. The Administration’s proposal also included a laundry list of takeaways to civil service protections and paid leave sellback.
After two days of mediation, it’s clear the City Administration is unwilling to reach a fair contract that addresses city workers’ core issues: the high cost of living in the Bay Area, chronic understaffing that endangers vital city services, and the protection of key benefits and civil service rights.
At our second mediation session on Monday, July 29, our bargaining team decided to reject the Administration’s package of takeaways after carefully considering the needs of city workers and residents. We suggested that both parties continue mediation, but the City Administration refused.
It appears that this Administration chose to enter mediation with no intention of making the compromises necessary for a fair agreement. We will now move to Factfinding, which is the next step in the bargaining process.
We know from our experience that if we come together we can win a strong contract. During our last negotiations, every major action we took resulted in the City Administration improving their proposals. As evidenced by the $140 million budget surplus last year, the City has the financial ability to fill vacancies for vital social services that help our community and provide a more livable wage for its workers.
Look out for the next bargaining bulletin coming out later this week with more information. It’s more important than ever to get involved. Our future is at stake.
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During fact-finding, the City Administration and IFPTE Local 21, representing city workers, each present arguments and evidence to a 3-person panel. The panel has one representative from IFPTE Local 21 and the City Administration, and a neutral Chairperson selected by the State Public Employee Relations Board (PERB). After the panel holds hearings and reviews the information that is presented, the Chairperson can issue a public report with recommendations for reaching a settlement.
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Get involved in the Local 21 Contract Action Team:
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