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City workers urge council to resolve stalled contract talks, warn of staffing impacts
Summary
Multiple city workers, represented by unions including SCIU and CSEA, addressed the council during public comment, urging progress on labor negotiations and saying contract delays are stretching workloads, increasing commutes and pressuring retention.
Several employees and union representatives asked the City Council during public comment to intensify efforts to complete contract negotiations that staff said have been stalled since the end of the prior contract on Dec. 31, 2024.
Speakers included public employees from the Libraries and other departments and union leaders who described a broad set of concerns: rising cost of living, vacancies that expand workloads, inequities in benefits design and the need for pay adjustments to retain staff. Melody (Mel) T., a librarian and member of the Service Employees International Union local (identified in remarks as SCIU), said the contract was “our constitution for our workers” and warned that extended negotiations feel like “rearranging deck chairs” rather than solving structural pay and benefit issues. Union representatives asked whether the council had approved additional budget authority for negotiations and said the negotiating team had not provided a direct response.
The CSEA local president Meb Steiner also spoke in general support of the 3265 El Camino teacher housing project, noting that classified staff and many school employees remain cost‑burdened and that any housing targeted at educators and staff is welcome.
City Manager and staff responses on the record emphasized that the council has provided budget authority and that some conversations about budget and market adjustments are ongoing; speakers requested clearer updates from the city negotiating team. Several speakers said they or coworkers are commuting long distances because housing in the region is unaffordable and that retention is endangered by the lack of completed agreements.
Why it matters: Labor contracts for city employees affect service continuity and recruitment. Speakers emphasized the city’s reliance on a broad set of public employees — library staff, public works, recreation, and others — and said retention and recruitment pressures are felt across multiple departments.
What the council said: Council members thanked speakers for raising the issue and encouraged staff to continue negotiations. Staff said they would provide additional briefings on the budget authority and market realignment numbers requested by union representatives.
