Tentative Agreement Averts 2-Day Strike By East Bay Parks Employees

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- Negotiators for union workers at the East Bay Regional Park District have reached a tentative agreement with management that averts a two-day strike that had been planned for Thursday and Friday, a union leader said Tuesday.

Cliff Rocha, a park ranger who is president of Local 2428 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said union leaders reached the tentative pact with management for a new four-year contract at about 9 p.m. Monday and are recommending that members approve it in a vote that will take place soon.

A two-day walkout that had been planned for Thursday and Friday has been called off.

Rocha said the tentative agreement addresses the union's main concerns, which he said are wage increases and retirement and health care contributions, but he declined to be specific
because the details haven't yet been presented to members.

He said Local 2428 represents more than 600 rangers, naturalists, supervisors, firefighters, lifeguards, clerical workers and other employees.

District officials were not immediately available for comment Tuesday morning.

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