Garden Grove public employees press council as mediation looms; union leaders urge respectful bargaining

Representatives of the Garden Grove Employees League (GGEL) and the Orange County Employees Association (OCEA) addressed the council Tuesday to press for a settlement as labor negotiations approached mediation.

Tim Steed of OCEA told the council the union and the city are scheduled to enter mediation on Friday to break a negotiation impasse and said the sides are “a lot closer than it appears.” The unions called on the city to demonstrate a public commitment to settling the contract and to respect the workforce that maintains city services.

Multiple speakers representing GGEL described the range of public‑works, water, sewer, signal and parks positions the union covers and said members provide work that Garden Grove residents rely on daily. Michael Rocha, GGEL president and a public‑works employee, said the union represents about 88 members and that prior proposals from the city felt dismissive; he called for the council to direct the city manager to seek a good‑faith resolution in mediation.

Gloria Alvarado of the Orange County Labor Federation and other labor allies urged visible council support for the workforce and asked council members to instruct negotiators to come to mediation ready to bridge remaining differences. Speakers noted the union had ratified proposals internally but said outstanding issues required mediation.

Council members said they expect the city’s bargaining team to attend the mediation and urged both sides to reach an agreement. No agreement was announced at the meeting; staff said mediation was scheduled for Friday and councilmembers asked to be briefed following the mediation.