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County approves labor agreements as public employees strike; workers press for higher pay and no health-care cuts
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved package labor agreements and pay-plan changes but heard extended public comment from striking United Public Employees members and other county workers who said proposed raises and health-plan changes fall short.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved a set of labor agreements and changes to the unrepresented pay plan on July 8, 2025, while dozens of county employees and United Public Employees (UPE) members staged public comment and a one-day strike to press for higher wages and to oppose proposed health-benefit changes.
The agreements — presented together with an amendment to the retiree health savings plan — were approved by a unanimous roll-call vote after staff said the contracts represented negotiated outcomes with multiple bargaining units and that other, more contentious items were the subject of on‑going discussions. The board also approved the related unrepresented pay plan changes in the same vote.
Union members and county employees used the allotted public‑comment period to press the board for larger raises, and many urged that the county not seek concessions that would increase out‑of‑pocket health costs. Speakers included rank‑and‑file county workers and union leaders who described inadequate pay and rising inflation, and said some staff cannot afford housing or to miss a day of work. Ted Samara, executive director of UPE, told the board that members had initiated a one‑day strike to protest “unlivable wages,” proposed proposals to limit bargaining rights and possible restrictions on health benefits. Multiple speakers described long tenures with only small raises and said proposed 2.8%–3% increases do not match inflation.
The county executive presented the agreements before the vote and noted they covered multiple bargaining units; staff said the approved packages included a mix of economic and non‑economic provisions negotiated with several unions. County executives and union negotiators each characterized later portions of negotiations differently at the podium: county staff said many deals reflected compromises and fiscal constraints; union speakers said the offers did not meet members’ needs and warned of continued job actions.
Why it matters: County employees provide direct services to residents — from public health and child services to dispatch and corrections — and labor disputes affect recruitment, morale and service continuity. The comments at the dais highlighted concerns about pay competitiveness, retention of front‑line staff and projected impacts if healthcare costs rise or benefits change.
What the board did: The board voted to approve the labor agreements and the unrepresented pay plan changes as presented on the agenda (motion and unanimous roll call). Several board members, while voting in favor, also said they wanted to stay engaged on recruitment and retention issues and asked staff to report back on long‑run recruitment strategies.
Where things stand: Union leaders said they would continue to press the county for better terms; UPE members held a targeted work stoppage and many told the board they will continue to organize for higher pay and to resist any health‑benefit reductions. County staff said they would continue labor talks where outstanding issues remain and pursue recruitment strategies for hard‑to‑fill classifications.
Ending: The board’s votes concluded a day in which dozens of county employees delivered emotional public comments describing personal financial strain, and the board asked staff to follow up on longer‑term workforce stabilization steps.
