Union representing 12,000 Santa Clara County workers to strike Wednesday

SEIU Local 521, which represents more than 12,000 county workers, has called a strike beginning Wednesday and with no clear end date.

After months of protests and allegations of unfair labor practices, the union representing more than 12,000 Santa Clara County workers has called for a strike beginning early Wednesday — the first one in four decades.

SEIU Local 521 members authorized a strike in August and notified the county at a rally last Thursday that they could call a strike at any moment.

County CEO Jeff Smith confirmed in a phone interview Tuesday night with this news organization that the strike will begin Wednesday. The union has not indicated how long the strike will last.

For months, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) members have packed Board of Supervisors meetings to complain about the rising cost of living in the Bay Area, staffing issues and difficulties in filling mental health and other key positions. SEIU has also filed a number of complaints with the state’s Public Employment Relations Board alleging unfair labor practices by the county.

Those complaints claim the county has failed to address staffing issues at the intake center for children under temporary custody, thus endangering workers and the children, and contend the county has unilaterally restructured the Department of Family and Children’s Services without first negotiating those changes with employees.

“The Board of Supervisors and CEO, Jeff Smith have caused this strike by breaking the law,” said Riko Mendez, chief elected officer of SEIU Local 521. “Unfair labor practices hurt public service workers and the vulnerable communities they serve. Our members know that striking is a sacrifice – but as employees who have dedicated their lives to public service, they are ready to strike to protect children, seniors and low-income families.”

Smith argued the dispute is largely about wage increases, and said the union is asking for almost double of what’s been offered.

“The total package is worth more than half a billion dollars just for SEIU members, and that’s a lot of money in the midst of the beginning of the recession,” Smith said. “We’ve made it clear that we really can’t afford that, and rather than going through the typical fact-finding and impasse process at the table, which would bring in an outside part to look at the  finances, the union has decided to take to the streets.”

The county’s current offer as of Sept. 26 calls for 3 percent salary increases each year over five years, with additional bumps for certain positions. The county is also asking for employees to pay an additional $1.50 from each paycheck toward retirement health benefits and increase their share of health premiums by 2 percent.

SEIU declined to reveal what kind of salary increases it’s seeking or to comment on Smith’s cost estimate of its proposal. The union’s contract expired in June.

The county is currently negotiating with unions representing management employees and county nurses, and by December 2021 all of its contracts will reopen, Smith said. Other unions will likely ask for the same wage increases granted to SEIU, which would cost a total of $1.5 billion over five years, Smith said.

“We’re looking at property tax and other revenues beginning to decline, and the county’s budget is extremely dependent on property taxes,” Smith said.

Among the county employees SEIU represents are hospital janitors, social workers, mental health providers and clerical staff, as well as employees with parks, law enforcement and libraries. It’s unclear how many workers will participate in the strike.

County and union leadership have been preparing for the strike for several weeks, Smith said, although no exact date for the strike was given. He said the county plans to fill essential positions in social services, at county hospitals and jails, the Sheriff’s Department and other emergency services.

The strike would be the first in Santa Clara County in nearly 40 years, according to SEIU.

Contact  Thy Vo at 408-200-1055 or tvo@bayareanewsgroup.com.