More than 2,000 Contra Costa County workers are set to strike Aug. 19 if a new contract cannot be agreed upon, their union announced Friday.
The union workers include more than 250 different county classifications, including those in health services, maintenance and licensed vocational nursing. They are all represented by the Contra Costa County Teamsters, which is affiliated with the 1.3 million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters union.
Throughout the last few months, the workers’ union and Contra Costa County have held contract negotiation sessions to replace their contract that expired June 30. According to the union, negotiators met with a county mediator on Wednesday but ultimately did not come to an agreement.
The Teamsters said they have urged the county to adopt a fair compensation structure, one that isn’t lagging behind neighboring jurisdictions.
“What we’re asking for is reasonable: modest cost of living adjustments and equity in the pay system, so the county can provide employees with real competitive compensation in future negotiations,” said Matt Finnegan, a Teamsters chief negotiator, in a statement.
On July 24, more than 2,000 county workers voted and about 92% authorized a strike if a new contract could not be agreed upon. The union said voting turnout was overwhelming and unprecedented. Now, the strike is set to begin in two weeks.
The next contract negotiation session with the county is scheduled for next Wednesday. The union said this will be the county’s “one last chance” before the Teamsters members initiate the countywide strike.
“The county is taking an unreasonable position – we are asking for equity,” Finnegan said in the statement. “If the county administration continues its unreasonable position, they will force our members to walk off the job.”
Contra Costa County officials did not immediately respond for comment.
Source: danvillesanramon.com
