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Long‑service Menlo Park employees urge council to negotiate fair SEIU contract, cite turnover and disrespect
Summary
Multiple longtime city employees and SEIU members told the council during public comment that pay and benefits have not kept pace, causing turnover and morale issues; one speaker alleged that a city bargaining representative laughed at wage proposals and that employees deserve professional treatment.
Before the council’s closed session on June 23, several long‑service city employees and SEIU members addressed the Council during public comment, urging a fair successor agreement and better treatment at the bargaining table.
Debra Calvillo said she had worked in the police department for 30 years and described frontline city staff as the backbone of municipal services. Other speakers — including Brandon Paulminos (water system operator), Regina Affilio (25 years city service), Alan Acker (16 years in Parks), Juan Quinones (Library) and Keith Dowdale (Parks) — described difficulty retaining staff, cited lateral moves to neighboring cities for better pay/benefits, and asked the Council to pursue creative solutions, including use of reserves, to retain institutional knowledge.
Keith Dowdale said bargaining teams had submitted many proposals and received “minimal feedback or outright dismissal,” and he told councilmembers the city’s representative had shown disrespect during negotiations, including laughing at proposed wage increases. "We are doing everything we can to bargain in good faith and work with the city to secure a fair contract," he said.
Council acknowledged the comments; the council later considered a successor agreement with AFSCME (a different bargaining unit) during the regular business portion of the meeting.
