Solano County public defenders remained on strike Tuesday, one month after taking to the picket lines over stalled contract talks.
The public defenders called the strike on Feb. 24 and accused the county of bargaining in bad faith, a claim the county denies.
“Solano County has repeatedly proposed short-sighted offers that will only create greater costs and crises for the justice system in the County down the road,” according to a statement from Teamsters Local 150, the union representing the public defenders.
The union workers have been without a contract for about 5 months and say they are fighting for fair wages, which have fallen behind their counterparts in other counties.
Union officials say Solano County public defenders make, on average, 20% less than their colleagues in the Bay Area and 14% less than those in neighboring counties like Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Napa and Alameda.
During the strike, public defenders continue to work on existing cases, but have refused to take on any new clients.
A county spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment but said in February that the county presented the union with “a compensation proposal designed to remain competitive while responsibly managing public resources.”
The county is also working with the Solano County Superior Court system to help minimize the strike’s impacts.
“Cases declined by the Public Defender or Alternate Public Defender offices will be referred to private counsel so individuals continue to receive constitutionally required legal representation and court proceedings can move forward,” county officials said in February.
Public defenders are county lawyers who represent criminal defendants who can’t afford an attorney.