Politics & Government
Contra Costa County Workers Striking for Higher Pay, Better Working Conditions
The department's workers have been operating without a contract since June, when it expired.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA— Hundreds of striking union workers and their supporters gathered Tuesday in front of the Contra Costa County administration building in Martinez to protest issues related to ongoing contract negotiations with county officials.
The workers, represented by Service Employees International Union Local 1021, say the strike, which is scheduled to end Wednesday morning, is in response to unfair labor practices, low salaries and staffing levels,
safety issues and the lack of resources given to the county's public assistance programs.
The two sides met on Thursday but talks with the county aren't going well, said SEIU 1021 spokeswoman Nguyen Weeks.
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"The county walked out of negotiations," Weeks said.
County spokeswoman Betsy Burkhart said the talks ended at noon and county officials have offered to continue negotiations. The union, which represents about 1,100 workers in the county's Department of Employment and Human Services, also says low pay and an expensive health care package leads to excessively high turnover rates.
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"There are multiple things at play that lead to people leaving," Weeks said. "They can't live on the salary, they're worried about safety and the health care is out of reach. It's a perfect storm."
So far, the county's offer includes a ten percent salary increase to be implemented over the course of two years, Burkhart said. Safety issues for field workers, who can walk into dangerous situations during the course of their jobs, is also a union concern. Workers want some kind of protocol in place to ensure that when they ask for help, someone will be available to respond, Weeks said.
The union also says the county has access to $21 million for programs that help sexually exploited children, abused children and seniors, low-income county residents who need food assistance and the county's
homeless population.
"They have access to (the money), but it can't be used because they don't have the staff," Weeks said.
The department's workers have been operating without a contract since June, when it expired.
Another round of negotiations is scheduled for Oct. 10, Weeks said.
By Bay City News
Photo via Morguefile
