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Kern County employees press board for raises, warn of staffing shortages and potential strike
Summary
More than a dozen county employees and SEIU representatives told the board of widespread understaffing, low pay and heavy caseloads across multiple departments and said bargaining teams may prepare for a strike if the board does not negotiate higher wages and retention measures.
Dozens of Kern County employees and union representatives used public comment on April 8 to urge the Board of Supervisors to increase wages and staffing levels, and several said their bargaining teams are prepared to call a strike if talks do not resolve outstanding pay and retention issues.
Victor Portillo, a program support supervisor with Employers Training Resource, told the board he and coworkers are “strike ready” if the county does not negotiate higher wages and better retention measures. Portillo said public-facing county agencies face staffing shortages that force remaining employees to cover additional duties and that bilingual premium pay has not kept pace with need.
Nathaniel Goze, a communicable disease investigator, described public-health staffing losses and warned that potential federal funding cuts would worsen service gaps. “We are overworked, underpaid and now with potential federal funding cuts, things will only get worse,” Goze said. He told the board Kern County treated more than 4,000 syphilis cases last year.
Angelique Martinez, a group counselor at the Jameson Children’s Center, said the shelter is critically understaffed, describing assaults on staff and repeated exposure to traumatic incidents that have contributed to high turnover.
Several other county employees — including Lydia Gonzales (human services technician), Catherine Haas (In-Home Supportive Services social services worker), Michael O’Neil (library associate) and Odilia Araujo de Camacho (longtime Employers Training Resource employee) — related similar concerns about low pay, high caseloads and the difficulty of retaining experienced staff. Multiple speakers asked for meetings with supervisors and said they had already requested follow-up from board offices.
Chair Leticia Perez acknowledged the comments and asked staff to schedule meetings when requested. Several speakers said they had already reached out to supervisor offices; Perez and other supervisors verbally committed to follow up with meetings.
No formal board action or motions were recorded during public comment on these labor and staffing concerns; speakers requested negotiation and meetings and warned of possible future labor action.
Speakers and roles cited in this report include Victor Portillo, program support supervisor, Employers Training Resource; Nathaniel Goze, communicable disease investigator, Kern County Public Health; Angelique Martinez, group counselor, Jameson Children’s Center; Lydia Gonzales, human services technician; Catherine Haas, IHSS social-services worker; Michael O’Neil, library associate; and Odilia Araujo de Camacho, Employers Training Resource employee.
