Oakland, CA — On the fifth day of its labor strike, today Service Employees International Union, Local 1021 notified the City that it has agreed to the City’s request for mediation with a mediator selected by SEIU. Although the City has agreed to attend mediation on Monday with SEIU’s chosen mediator, SEIU informed the City this afternoon that it has decided to continue its strike tomorrow, Monday, and “until further notice.”
“This continued strike is harming our most vulnerable residents, including more than 1,000 families who rely on our Head Start and Rec Centers for childcare, hundreds of frail elders who rely on our senior centers, and thousands of patrons who depend on our libraries and parks,” said Mayor Libby Schaaf. “We will continue to work with SEIU in good faith, and remain responsible and fair to BOTH our workers as well as our residents. We cannot spend money we do not have, particularly as we know our pension costs are escalating at least 49% over the next five years. Oaklanders deserve predictable City services now and into the future.”
The City will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available; a summary of facilities, programs, and services shut down by the strike; strikerelated documents; details about the City’s wage offer; a financial analysis of SEIU’s proposal; and other relevant documents are posted on our City web site: https://www.oaklandca.gov.
Background and Timeline
On Thursday, December 7 (Day 3 of the labor strike), the Oakland City Council provided the City’s bargaining team with direction and final authority for the SEIU, Local 1021 negotiations. The City presented the Last, Best, and Final Offer and informed SEIU that the City Council directed that if the union rejected the offer, the City would declare impasse.
On Friday, December 8, SEIU rejected the City’s offer; the City formally declared impasse and requested SEIU to agree to formal mediation with the State Mediationand Conciliation Service.
Today, SEIU informed the City that it would agree to our request for mediation with a mediator selected by SEIU. The City has agreed to this request, and the mediation is scheduled for Monday, December 11. Despite this, SEIU intends to continue the strike tomorrow, Monday, and until further notice.