UPDATE 10/20/22
The first city workers strike in Santa Cruz history has ended, after the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union, which represents the workers, reached a tentative deal with the city.
The workers still need to vote on the agreement. A similar agreement had averted a strike earlier this month, but workers voted it down. The new deal promises an increased one-time bonus and increased salary payments.
City services like trash and recycling pick-up, libraries and parks will resume today.
UPDATE 10/17/22:
Santa Cruz workers are on strike this morning, after the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union did not reach a new deal with the city over the weekend.
In posts on social media, the union called the strike the first in Santa Cruz's history.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐โ๐ ๐ต๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ผ๐. Join us in solidarity as early as 4 am. #StrikeReady pic.twitter.com/T3T7MXXiI2
— SEIU Local 521 (@SEIU521) October 17, 2022
A full list of affected city services can be found on the city's website. We will have more updates as they develop.
The union representing Santa Cruz city workers is preparing to strike early next week, after workers voted to reject a tentative agreement that had averted a strike earlier this month.
Roughly 83% of workers voted against the agreement. Workers rallied at Santa Cruz city hall Tuesday evening, after the union notified the city of its intent to strike on Monday morning.
โI just want the city to acknowledge the sacrifices that all the workers have made,โ said Emilio Galvan Valtierra, a facility attendant who works with seniors at the London Nelson community center.
In a statement, the union says it filed an unfair labor charge against the city. Low wages and high vacancies have left workers feeling overworked and underpaid, according to the statement. The union also cited unsafe working conditions, particularly a lack of protective gear needed to clear the benchlands homeless encampment.
The tentative agreement workers rejected included a one-time bonus of $1,100. It also included pay increases of 12% over the next three years, starting with a 4.5% increase this year.
Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker said the rejection was unexpected, and heโs unsure if the city will reach a new agreement with the union before Monday.
โWe are in a challenging place,โ he said. โI'd like to say that I'm cautiously optimistic.โ
Huffaker added that the strike would have a significant impact on city services. City workers would no longer collect trash, recycling or empty the new food scrap bins the city recently distributed. Some libraries and city parks would close for the duration of the strike.
Emergency services like police and fire would resume as usual.
