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City employees and SEIU urge council to match COLA to CPI amid staffing concerns
Summary
Several Emeryville city employees and SEIU representatives told the council during public comment that a proposed cost-of-living adjustment did not keep pace with the Consumer Price Index, urged equitable wages for frontline staff, and asked the council to negotiate a contract that preserves wage parity.
A string of public commenters representing SEIU and Emeryville city staff used the public comment period to press the council for a contract that provides a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) at least equal to the Consumer Price Index.
"SEIU is the engine that keeps Emeryville running," said Alyssa Chung, who identified herself as the SAU chapter president and an assistant planner for the city of Emeryville. Chung said members are "chronically understaffed" and that the city offered a COLA "less than the CPI, 4%," a level she said does not reflect current economic realities.
Monica Centeno, a finance department employee who said she is an SEIU member, told the council: "When the COLA is below CPI, we lose purchasing power." Centeno said her take-home pay is lower than in 2024 because of required contributions and asked the council to support a COLA that "at least matches CPI."
Other speakers echoed those themes: Navarro Oakes, who identified himself as a senior planner and chief steward for SEIU, described city employees as "the engine" of municipal services and said morale and retention are at stake if pay does not keep up with inflation. Several speakers asked the council to complete negotiations before the August recess and to prioritize wage equity for lower-paid staff.
One speaker, Amber Evans, identified herself as an SEIU member with 15 years in Emeryville and described a disconnect between stated city priorities and compensation for frontline workers. SEIU speakers emphasized staffing shortages, workload pressures, and the importance of fair compensation to maintain service levels.
Why it matters: City employees performing front-line services said the proposed raises are insufficient to keep pace with inflation; their testimony frames upcoming negotiations and could influence council direction on labor policy and budget priorities.
Next steps: The public comment record signals strong worker advocacy; the council did not take formal action on the contract during this meeting. Staff and council negotiation positions, and any subsequent closed-session labor talks, will determine whether the COLA is adjusted.
