Update: Oakland City Workers Vote on Contract with 3 Percent Raise; Furloughs to End

By Bay City News Service

City workers and Oakland City Council members voted Friday on a new two-year contract that includes a 3 percent raise along with the expiration of furloughs that cost workers about 9 percent of their annual salaries in recent years, according to union and city officials.

The two sides reached an agreement in mid-July after employees went out on a one-day strike July 1.

The contract includes a 3 percent raise over two years. Meanwhile, city employees will see 9 percent of their salary restored since temporary employee givebacks agreed upon two years ago are set to expire, according to Sean Maher, a spokesman for Mayor Jean Quan.

Notably, the contract does not include healthcare and pension concessions initially proposed by the city that union officials say would have cut as much as $1,200 each month from each worker.

The Oakland City Council gave its final approval to the pay increase at a special meeting Friday morning on a 5-0 vote. Councilmember Libby Schaaf abstained, as she did on the first of the two votes required to implement the salary changes. Councilmembers Larry Reid and Desley Brooks were absent.

SEIU Local 1021, which also represents BART workers, represents more than 1,000 full time and 1,500 part-time workers for the city of Oakland. It does not include public safety employees (police and fire).

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Rockridge Patch contributed to this article.

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