Santa Cruz, unionized city workers reach tentative agreement to avoid strike

Employees for the city of Santa Cruz represented by Service Employees International Union will not go on strike after a tentative agreement was reached on a new contract, the union said. 

SEIU 521, which represents about 800 city workers in multiple positions, said in a statement that the contract includes a variety of pay increases, better retirement benefits, and health and safety improvements such as trauma leave.