SEIU Strike to Impact City Services in Santa Cruz

Union members rejected a Tentative Agreement (TA) made between labor negotiators and the City of Santa Cruz on October 2, which would have provided a one-time essential worker bonus of $1,100 as well as raises totaling 12%, with 4.5% in the first year.

"The membership voted, and made clear the City’s offer and TA did not go far enough to support the needs of frontline city workers," SEIU Local 521 stated on social media.

The city has announced that essential services such as police, fire, water, and sewer will remain unchanged, however the strike will have "significant impacts" on other services.

Impacted services to include:

* There will be no refuse or food scrap pick-up, and both the landfill and recycling center will be closed.
* All library facilities except the Capitola Branch Library and the Scotts Valley Branch library will be closed until Sat, Oct 22. Capitola and Scotts Valley libraries will have limited hours: Mon-Thurs 10:00am - 6:00pm, and Fri 10:00am - 5:00pm. All library programs are cancelled except storytimes at Scotts Valley and Capitola - call to confirm day and time. Library partner organizations may have programs that take place after-hours - please contact the specific organization to confirm.
* Many City parks will be closed, and many recreation programs cancelled - please check the Parks and Recreation webpage.
* Most City service counters will be closed and phone lines will go to automated messages, with the exception of Planning and Community Development.

Updates on service impacts can be found on the city's website:
https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/seiu-strike-service-impacts

Service Employees International Union, Local 521 represents 60,000 public-and nonprofit, private-sector workers in California’s Bay Area, the Central Coast, and the Central Valley.

Protect Santa Cruz City Workers Who Protect Essential Public Services! Add your name in solidarity: https://bit.ly/protectsantacruzcityworkers