![]() “Water’s still being made and sewage water is still being treated,” Bare said, of the union’s essential service exceptions. All of the city’s libraries will remain shuttered throughout the strike and, with parks and recreational fields closed, many youth sports practices and games have been canceled. Without the union’s workers, no city trash pickup will occur this week, public bathrooms and gated parks will remain locked, permit and bill-paying counters will remain closed and parking scofflaws will not be ticketed. The last major public employee strike in the city of Santa Cruz occurred in 2005, when Santa Cruz Metro bus drivers went on strike for 35 days. ![]() ![]() Per union and city representatives, this week’s labor stoppage is the first full-length strike by SEIU employees in the city’s history. Two candidates for the November general election’s Santa Cruz mayoral race, including SEIU-endorsed Fred Keeley and opponent Joy Schendledecker, stood on the picket line in support. Workers are heardĭuring a morning rally and press conference on the steps of Santa Cruz City Hall, SEIU 521 Localwide Vice President Mullissa Willette characterized Monday’s strike as “the ultimate action,” a decision to withhold labor in order to fight against the unfair labor practices. And that’s why membership doesn’t trust them,” said Bare, who is employed as a city parking control maintenance worker. “It’s happened to us in the past where the city swears up and down that something’s going to happen and then it doesn’t come true. SEIU 521 Santa Cruz Chapter President Ken Bare said Monday afternoon that the deal was scuttled, he felt, less because of what was or was not offered - including a one-time bonus plus a 12% pay raise over three years - and more because of employees’ doubts about city management follow-through. The chapter called off a planned strike earlier this month after labor negotiators came to a tentative agreement, but the action was back on this week after about 80% of the union membership voted down the proposal. At the core of the strike, the Service Employees International Union, Local 521, has filed three unfair labor practice complaints - with another pending - against the City of Santa Cruz, where some 420 of their workers are employed, according to union representatives.
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