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.
Union members voted in late October to authorize a strike if an agreement could not be reached after the union said negotiations had stalled after several months.
“This agreement represents a major victory for Santa Cruz City workers and our residents,” SEIU 521 president Ken Bare said on Thursday. “We are proud to have earned the respect and dignity we have fought so hard to restore especially when it comes to safety and respect for our workforce,” he said.
Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker declined to offer specifics about the tentative agreement until the contract is finalized by the union’s ratification vote.
“Negotiations with SEIU have been productive and collaborative. We continue to be hopeful that we’ll reach a final agreement soon,” Huffaker said in a statement.
SEIU 521 said the new contract will include a 13.5% pay raise over three years for all represented employees to keep up with the cost of living. It will also include pay increases for employees who have bilingual abilities, long-serving employees, and those working in high-risk positions eligible for hazard pay.
The city also agreed to paid leave for employees that suffer traumatic experiences on the job and other workplace safety improvements, according to the union.
SEIU 521 members working in trash collection and wastewater management, and in parks, libraries and community centers, among other positions, will vote on the contract on Wednesday.