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County workers urge board to fix understaffing, warn of strike as bargaining stalls
Summary
Several SEIU members told the Solano County Board the county faces chronic staffing shortages — more than 200 vacancies in Health & Social Services and eight open 9‑1‑1 dispatcher positions — and urged equity adjustments and renewed bargaining to avoid service disruptions and a possible strike.
Several members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) addressed the Solano County Board of Supervisors during public comment, saying long‑running understaffing and contract disputes are harming county services and employees.
"Right now, 9‑1‑1 dispatch is down more than 8 positions," Linda Cheeseman said, citing longer emergency response times and forced overtime. "Our health and social services department has more than 200 vacancies, delaying services for the most vulnerable in our community." (Linda Cheeseman, public commenter)
Nicole Chavera Garcia, president of SEIU local chapter 1021, asked for a moment of silence for a slain social worker and said county frontline workers are overburdened by new state mandates and by the loss of negotiated benefits. "My caseload is almost 800," she said, describing bilingual and older‑adult caseload pressures that members say require equity adjustments.
Speakers from the union described canceled holiday plans, financial strain after benefits were modified mid‑negotiation, and repeated requests that the county return to the bargaining table. "We're asking you, don't be a Scrooge. Invest in the people who invest in Solano County," one commenter said.
Board members did not take immediate action during the public comment period. County staff and negotiators have been engaged in labor discussions; the board later adjourned to closed session for labor negotiations under Government Code §54957.6. The closed session item covers multiple represented units and is the forum for formal bargaining updates to the board.
What happens next: union leaders said they will continue to press the county for equity adjustments and that strike authorization votes are possible if talks do not progress. The board did not announce any changes to the public bargaining schedule at the meeting.
