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County social workers, union urge higher pay and safety measures, warn of strike as contract talks stall
Summary
United Public Employees and Sacramento County social workers told the Board of Supervisors on April 22 they are seeking pay parity, retention incentives and stronger protections after repeated on-the-job assaults; union leaders said strike is a last resort if negotiations do not move.
Members of United Public Employees and front-line county social workers urged the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to press county negotiators for higher pay, retention incentives and better workplace safety measures during off‑agenda public comment on April 22.
Union executive director Ted Samara said negotiators had been slow and warned county employees are considering strike action if bargaining does not produce acceptable economic offers. “We don't wanna strike, but we will. That is our last resort,” Samara told the board.
Social workers and other county caregivers said wages have fallen behind comparable counties and that chronic understaffing and repeated workplace assaults increase pressure on remaining staff. “The bargaining team has requested 5% in order to bring social workers at least into that median,” said Sarah Singleton, a child protective services social worker who said county data show a 7% shortfall from base pay medians used for comparison. County negotiators, she said, offered a 2.8% equity adjustment or to let the bargaining team reallocate the funds elsewhere.
Tezra Sledge, a UPE business agent and co‑chief negotiator assigned to CPS, told supervisors that social workers face violent incidents while doing their jobs and had sought a 15% incentive for CPS staff that county negotiators had rejected. “If you do not think that losing a finger is worth 15%, then there is something definitely wrong with this picture,” Sledge said, citing incidents in which workers were injured on duty.
Speakers described the work as essential to keeping children and families safe and urged supervisors to direct negotiators to return to the table with stronger offers. Several speakers said they had taken time off to attend the hearing and that the union hoped to avoid a strike but would use it if necessary.
Board members did not take action during public comment. Several supervisors and county staff acknowledged the concerns and told speakers they would relay the messages to negotiators ahead of scheduled closed‑session bargaining updates.
The appeals and demands from county front‑line staff come as contract talks continue; union leaders and social workers asked the board to press for a larger equity adjustment, increased retention incentives for CPS, stronger protections against workplace violence and a commitment to bargaining in good faith.
