IFPTE Local 21 and SEIU Local 1021: City of Oakland Negotiators Reject Proposal to Avert Strike by Entering into Informal Mediation Causing Oakland Workers To Strike Tomorrow

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakland City workers represented by SEIU Local 1021 and IFPTE Local 21, more than 3,000 workers in total, will go on strike Tuesday, December 5^th. The more than 2,000 workers represented by SEIU 1021 will strike in protest of the City's unfair labor practices, with IBEW 1245 honoring their picket lines. The nearly 1,000 City workers represented by IFPTE 21 will be on sympathy strike.

Earlier today, the three unions proposed postponing a strike action if the City of Oakland negotiators agreed to enter informal, pre-impasse mediation with the help of former Assembly Speaker and Mayor Willie Brown.

At issue in these negotiations are unfair labor practices, understaffed departments, vacancy and retention problems, health and safety issues for the community caused by a shortage of illegal dumping crews and mandatory overtime for emergency dispatchers, and an increasing reliance on temporary part time employees to service the growing city.

Chief negotiator for SEIU Local 1021 Rob Szykowny expressed the workers' disappointment in the City's decision to leave workers no other choice but to strike: "Oakland workers want to go to work tomorrow, but after working without a contract since June, and the City committing unfair labor practices in bargaining and towards our members at work, they are willing to strike. Furthermore, the City still refuses to prioritize the health and safety challenges facing Oakland residents and workers. "

IFPTE Local 21 Bargaining Team member and Oakland Crime Lab worker Wali Dieu echoed SEIU Local 1021's Chief Negotiator's disappointment and said, "Our workers are vital to City departments and the services they provide. Our communities and our members deserve a commitment from the City to do everything possible to reach a fair deal. As city workers we don't want to strike. But we are paid less than our counterparts in other jurisdictions, and the current proposed wage increase will make us fall even further behind the cost of living."

Michael Patterson, Chief Steward of IBEW 1245, the union representing City of Oakland electricians added, "As City of Oakland residents and workers, we're united in getting City leaders to prioritize the issues that are impacting community services."

Oakland workers will be striking starting at 7am, Tuesday, December 5^th. Picket lines will be up throughout the city, including City Hall and the Equipment Services Facility at 7101 Edgewater Drive. The sanctioned strike will continue in front of Mayor Libby Schaaf's re-election fundraiser hosted by Oakland's top developers and property owners.

To learn more about the issues facing Oakland's residents and city workers visit libbysoakland.com or on Facebook at @LibbySchaafsOakland.

SOURCE IFPTE Local 21; SEIU Local 1021; IBEW 1245