Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Mercury News: Santa Clara County workers strike wednesday

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 521, which represents employees in libraries, parks, and law enforement as well as hospital custodial staff, social workers, mental health providers, and clerical workers in Santa Clara County, called for its first strike in four decades to begin Wednesday, the Mercury News reports.

Members of the 12,000 strong union voted last month to authorize a strike and SEIU 521 notified the county last Thursday that a strike could begin any day.

The unions contract ended in June, but a skyrocketing cost of living in the Bay Area combined with staffing shortages in mental health and key positions have been sticking issues in negotiations. Further, the union is alleging unfair labor practices after the county unilateraly changed the structure of the Department of Family and Children's Services without the unions approval. The restructuring was a response to staffing shortages at an intake center for children under temporary custody, a situation the union alleges has endangered both employees and children.

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