Placentia city employees tell council they’re at impasse with contract talks
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Summary
A series of Placentia city employees and union leaders told the council on Nov. 18 that negotiations have reached impasse after city 'last, best and final' offers were rejected; speakers cited pay disparities, low average pay (~$70,000), understaffing in dispatch, and calls for the council to return bargaining teams to the table.
Multiple members of the Placentia City Employees Association (PCEA) and the Orange County Employees Association addressed the council on Nov. 18 to press for improved wages and benefits after bargaining talks reached impasse.
Veronica Rodarte, operations manager at the Orange County Employees Association and the lead negotiator for PCEA, said the unit "overwhelmingly rejected the city's last best and final offer," arguing that the proposal did not respect civilian employees and failed to address market equity, holiday pay for dispatchers, and medical-premium contributions. "The average PCA member earns about 70,000 a year," she said, noting that rising premiums and cost-of-living increases make the city's offer insufficient.
Union leaders and long‑time staff described operational impacts from turnover and understaffing. PCEA board member Shay Rodriguez, a dispatcher, said, "Dispatchers are the first first responders," described chronic understaffing and safety concerns, and said civilian employees shoulder work that is essential to public safety and city operations. Matt Brand and other community‑services employees said they had been told earlier in negotiations there was no money but later saw higher increases for other groups, which they said raised questions about fairness.
Felipe Bridal, a 30‑year community services coordinator and former union president, urged the council to direct bargaining teams back to the table with a fair offer; Eddie Rodriguez, PCEA president, said the unit is at impasse after what he described as an offer of "2% year, 2% year, 2%" and warned that morale is very low. Several speakers asked the council to treat civilian staff equitably compared with sworn officers and other settled units.
City council members listened and thanked speakers; no staff response resolving the impasse was recorded in the meeting. The public comments concluded without council direction to change the city's bargaining position at that session; additional negotiation steps or mediation were not announced during the meeting.