Summertime blues: San Jose worker strike looms while City Council goes on recess

MONTHS OF TENSE negotiations between city staff and union leaders have reached an impasse, with two large worker contracts expiring as the San Jose City Council enters a July recess.

Contracts for the two unions — IFPTE Local 21 and MEF-AFSCME Local 101 — expired June 30, leaving more than 4,500 city employees in limbo with more than 1,000 vacant positions. Both unions are asking for a 7 percent salary increase for the 2023-24 fiscal year, a 6 percent increase the following year and a 5 percent increase the third year. They also want eight weeks of family leave. The city has held steady at a counteroffer of 5 percent the first year, 4 percent in the second year and 3 percent in the third year, but union leaders say that’s not good enough, and now they’re poised to strike.