County workers urge higher pay, staffing as contract talks proceed; board enters closed session on negotiations

Dozens of Solano County employees and union representatives pressed the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 13 for higher wages, improved benefits and more staffing as contract negotiations neared expiration.

At the meeting’s public comment period, a string of speakers representing county unions and service programs described understaffing in libraries, 9-1-1 dispatch, and in-home supportive services (IHSS), and urged the board to direct negotiators to offer sizeable cost-of-living adjustments and retroactive pay if an agreement is reached.

Linda Cheeseman, a Solano County resident and member of SEIU Local 1021, said county workers seek “sustainable, high-quality jobs and a fair contract” that keeps pace with the cost of living, preserves access to health coverage, recognizes Juneteenth and Cesar Chavez as paid holidays, and limits outsourcing of public work. “We are Solano County workers and we deserve a contract that honors our work in our community,” Cheeseman told the board.

Nicole Rivera Garcia, president of SEIU Local 1021 Solano County chapter, relayed concerns from a 9-1-1 dispatch supervisor who was covering the floor because of staffing shortages. Garcia said dispatch is down six people, forcing overtime to become routine and raising concerns about service and employee burnout. “This isn’t just a staffing problem, it’s a service problem,” she said.

Speakers also raised IHSS pay and recruitment challenges. Lucero Pantoja, an IHSS provider for 15 years, and Maria Bucco, an IHSS provider for six years, described providing intensive care for family members while earning $17.70 per hour. Bucco said the wage forces her to rely on food banks and incur debt to cover medical travel and accessible transportation. Julia Hahn, speaking on behalf of another IHSS worker, described the program’s role in funding personal care and protective supervision and warned that low pay “means we will be constantly challenged with finding qualified, reliable, and safe help.”

Michael Kitsis, president of Local 21 Unit 16 and a senior behavioral health manager, criticized the county for bargaining late. Kitsis said unions requested bargaining earlier but the county did not meet until Aug. 26, leaving little time before the contract expiration. He urged that any agreement include retroactive pay to Oct. 25, the contract expiry date, noting that late bargaining delays payroll adjustments.

Other speakers, including workers who manage libraries and county facilities, asked the board to address security staffing and competitive pay for sheriff security officers who support library operations, and to authorize negotiators to make “real offers” that will recruit and retain workers.

After public comment the board moved the agenda into closed session for labor negotiations under Government Code section 54957.6. The posted closed-session items covered multiple bargaining units and specifically listed conference with labor negotiators for in-home supportive services with the employee organization identified as “SEIU local 20 15.” The public record at the meeting shows no report out of closed session on labor matters.

No formal labor contract or wage change was reported or approved in open session. Comments at the meeting distinguished between public appeals and the board’s private negotiations: the speakers urged immediate and retroactive remedies for workers, while the board exercised its statutory prerogative to meet privately with negotiators.

The board took no publicly recorded vote on wages or contract terms during the meeting. The union speakers asked the board to prioritize staffing, fair pay and benefits and to bring bargaining offers that county employees could accept.

Looking ahead, the board’s agenda indicated continued negotiation authority for county negotiators. The meeting also included a separate closed-session agenda item covering multiple labor units and the IHSS unit; any changes to pay or collective-bargaining agreements would be reflected in future public board actions if and when the board authorizes ratification or places contract terms on the consent or regular calendar.