Solano County Workers on Strike Today

Solano County workers in the Service Employees International Union are participating in a one-day Unfair Labor Practices strike at the County Administration Center, a union spokeswoman said.

SEIU spokeswoman Cecille Isidro said more than 2,000 workers and their allies are taking part in the first Solano County worker strike in 25 years.

Participating employees include Animal Control, Health and Human Services, the Department of Social Services and Benefits Action Center, Isidro said.

Solano County public information officer Matthew Davis said, “It will be business as usual Wednesday” in the county government offices.

Ninety percent of the 1,800 members of SEIU Local 1021 voted to give their bargaining team the power to call an Unfair Labor Practices strike.

A negotiation session between the union and the county was held Tuesday afternoon before the strike was confirmed, Isidro said.

Isidro said the county has not been bargaining in good faith and has failed to have a representative with the authority to negotiate at the bargaining table. Negotiations between the County and the union have been going on for three months, and the union’s contract expired Sept. 28, Isidro said.

The union includes social workers, mental health specialists, public health nurses, librarians, public safety dispatchers and clerical workers among others.

Solano County Proposal

Solano County officials said last week the union did not reply to the County’s last, best and final proposal. The County said it has offered a 2-year, $11.9 million contract and benefits package that includes a 3 percent wage increase upon ratification and another 3 percent in October 2016. The package maintains the County’s current health insurance contribution and a cafeteria plan contribution with increased contributions in 2016 and 2017, County officials said.

Union Demands

The County said the SEIU demanded two wage increases as part of the 2-year contract - 3.5 percent upon adoption and 3.25 percent in October 2016. The union also demanded higher medical contributions, the elimination of cost sharing for employee pensions and an additional floating holiday, the County said.

Cost Difference

The cost of the SEIU’s proposal is approximately $18.3 million - $6.3 million over the County’s proposal, according to the County.

Both parties have met 19 times, according to the County. “I am disappointed that an agreement was not reached. However, I remain hopeful that all parties involved can reach a satisfactory solution and reach one soon,” County Administrator Birgitta Corsello said last week.

Isidro said the County’s information about each side’s proposals is accurate, but the strike is a protest about the County’s legal conduct during negotiations. “We just need them to bargain in good faith and obey the laws that govern negotiations. We want an opportunity to reach a fair contract,” Isidro said.

--Bay City News