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City employees, union representatives press council to resolve contract talks after represented staff went 15 days without agreement
Summary
Represented city employees and SEIU Local 721 organizers told the council the bargaining unit was 15 days without a contract and asked council to support fair wage adjustments, grievance arbitration, and recruitment/retention measures.
Multiple speakers representing city employees urged the council to prioritize stalled labor negotiations and approve a fair contract that includes cost-of-living adjustments and binding grievance arbitration language. Leonard Castillo and other SEIU Local 721 representatives said members are working without a current contract and face high housing costs and long commutes.
Union speakers described staff shortages, overwork and a desire for pay adjustments that allow employees to live in the community they serve. They requested the council intervene with the city manager to accelerate negotiations, preserve current insurance contributions and include third-party binding arbitration for grievances to ensure procedural fairness. Councilmembers thanked employees for service and said they were aware of staffing pressures; no formal action was taken during the meeting, but councilmembers said they would continue to monitor labor negotiations.
Ending: Staff and union representatives said they will continue bargaining; the council encouraged a fair negotiated outcome but did not adopt a formal directive or new funding at the July 15 meeting.
