Labor Strike Partially Closes Sonoma County Superior Court

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- A strike by Sonoma County Superior Court workers shut down nearly all the courtrooms in the Law and Justice Center and Civil and Family Law courthouses in Santa Rosa the morning of Jan. 18.

Several dozen members of Service Employees International Union Local 1021, including court clerks, interpreters and legal processors, picketed at the main Law and Justice Center courthouse this morning where 15 courtrooms were consolidated into three that remained open.

Union spokeswoman Irene Rosario said negotiations on a new contract began in August. The old contract expired Sept. 23.

Workers want an extra eight-hour vacation day and a cost of living adjustment whenever any other courthouse employees receive one, Rosario said.

In a statement, the union said court management has wasted money on a case management system that doesn't work and jeopardizes access to personal information.

"Employee morale is low, they are denied basic tools and appropriate training to provide the service the public deserves," the SEIU stated.

Sonoma County Superior Court Executive Officer Jose Guillen did not return a call for comment this morning.

Rosario said the SEIU will decide late this afternoon whether to continue the strike on Thursday, Jan. 19.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock