Santa Clara County Says Most Facilities Remain Open During Strike
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- Santa Clara County officials said most county facilities have stayed open Wednesday to provide services amid a strike by county workers with Service Employees International Union Local 521.
Workers have been picketing at several locations, including the Social Services Agency's San Jose Family Resource Center.
According to the county, Roads Department services such as current pavement repair may be limited or temporarily delayed, and Child Support Services return calls and in-person customer service response times might be longer.
A full list of services affected by the strike can be found at www.sccgov.org/strikeupdate.
SEIU members make up about half of the county's 22,000 employees, and the union has accused the county of unfair labor practices, such as restructuring of the Department of Family and Children's Services without bargaining with employees.
SEIU Local 521's contract with Santa Clara County expired on June 16 and the union said there is no end date currently announced for the strike.
The county said it has offered union employees a proposal that includes a 3 percent general wage increase each year for five years.
County Executive Jeffrey Smith said in a news release Wednesday that the two sides have "a difference of opinion" on the projection of revenue in the future.
"The union has focused on recent revenue trends that were stronger, but future revenues are not expected to be nearly as strong," Smith said.
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