National City employees, union leaders press council for transparent cost analysis in contract talks

Union leaders and city employees urged the National City Council during public comment to require a complete cost analysis as a baseline for contract negotiations, saying the absence of up-to-date numbers has stalled talks.

Carla Apalategui, president of the SEIU chapter for National City employees, told the council: "I have faith that the city is still trying to negotiate good contract for our well deserved members. For us, the city providing an accurate cost analysis is the basic for good faith negotiation." Apalategui offered to answer council questions about the proposals.

"Let's start with the facts," Eddie Sanchez, vice president of SEIU Local 221, said. Sanchez recounted that the union submitted proposal sets on March 24, April 2 and April 7 and formally requested a complete cost analysis of all 21 proposals on April 23. He said the city has not provided a complete cost breakdown or an updated salary survey and characterized the gap as a choice rather than a capacity problem: "We do not believe this is an issue of capability. It's an issue of choice."

Library staff and municipal employees also urged the council to include appropriate classifications and benefits in the city's analysis. "The cost analysis left out a big chunk of our organization," Karl, representing the library, said, asking that full-timers be mapped correctly and that part-time staff be considered for benefits such as transit passes. Elena Delgado, representing the Municipal Employee Association, asked the council to "support the boots on the ground" with a contract that lets employees afford to continue serving National City.

Several recreation and library staff described burnout among part-time workers and asked for competitive pay and bilingual pay differentials, which they said matter given the city's diverse population. "My team is part time... they deserve more than just gratitude. They deserve our action," said Sayeda Jurado, a recreation coordinator with the Community Services Department.

The public comments preceded a closed-session bargaining meeting. After the session, the city attorney reported that the council "provided the labor negotiations with instructions to respond to each of the bargaining units." The council did not release a detailed public cost analysis during the meeting.

The council adjourned after the report out; no additional dates for public briefings on the cost analysis were announced in the meeting record.