City workers in Novato went back to work Friday after a three-day strike that union leaders hailed as a success in their ongoing contract negotiations with the city.

Members of Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and city leaders also returned to the bargaining table Thursday and the two sides are scheduled to continue working on a labor agreement next Wednesday, city officials announced.

The union represents maintenance workers, building inspectors, parks and recreation coordinators, city planners and office assistants.

In addition to SEIU Local 1021, the Novato Police Managers Association and Police Officers Association are also in contract talks with the city.

City officials said that they reached an agreement last month with the Novato Police Civilian Employees Association, which includes dispatchers and community service officers, along with three other unrepresented employee groups that improves pay and benefits for 31 percent of city staff.

“With the same offer extended to SEIU employees, the approved agreements provide 11% salary increases over three years and up to an additional 13% equity adjustments to move positions closer to market median,” city officials said in a news release Friday. “The city continues to cover 100 percent medical benefits for employees and their families, offer a flexible work schedule and provide eight additional weeks of paid parental leave.”

“By going on strike, we made a strong impact, and the city was forced to respond. We were successful in getting them back to the table.” Ian Lee, union spokesperson

Union officials said the strike helped them gain leverage in their talks with the city.

“By going on strike, we made a strong impact, and the city was forced to respond. We were successful in getting them back to the table,” said union spokesperson Ian Lee. “While SEIU 1021 membership has decided to return to work in good faith, it is our hope that the city will bargain in good faith. The union retains its right to engage in lawful concerted activity in the future.”

Even though the strike is over, some Novato Parks & Recreation camps and programs won’t resume, including gymnastics classes on Saturday. Camp Ton-of-Fun, Camp Ton-of-Fun Minis, Counselor In Training, and Gymnastics Full and Half Day Camp are closed through the final week of the season that ends Aug. 15.

For questions related to Parks & Recreation programs, people can contact the city via email.

Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.