City of Hollister employees will be voting on whether to accept
or reject the city’s
”
best and final offer
”
Thursday.
If they vote to accept the offer a new agreement will be
arranged. If they reject it they will discuss a strike vote, said
John Vellardita, executive director of the local Service Employees
International Union 817.
City of Hollister employees will be voting on whether to accept or reject the city’s “best and final offer” Thursday.
If they vote to accept the offer a new agreement will be arranged. If they reject it they will discuss a strike vote, said John Vellardita, executive director of the local Service Employees International Union 817.
City employees have a lot of reservations about the city’s offer, mostly based on whether the offer meets their needs concerning salary and health insurance, Vellardita said.
“That there are reservations raises a red flag in my opinion,” he said.
If the offer is rejected, whether or not to strike may be decided at the same time, he said. Exactly when a strike will take place will be discussed after Thursday’s meeting.
With the city facing a shortfall of between $1 million and $5 million for next year, filling the enormous money gap is much more pressing than discussion about salary and cost of living adjustments, said City Manager Dale Shaddox.
“We – public employees – enjoy good salaries, good benefits and really good job security,” Shaddox said. “It’s not good to be seen in a public way as not being satisfied.”
Given the financial climate of the city’s strict budget, Vellardita feels union workers have been very reasonable with their requests and have been cognizant of what the city is facing.
Both men declined to comment on what the offer consists of.
If a strike does ensue, the city must figure out how to maintain service to the community in the absence of 44 percent of the city’s employee base.
The city is not anticipating that the workers will strike – it’s not even in the picture, Shaddox said.
“Reasonable minds come to reasonable conclusions,” he said.
Having a number of negotiation meetings is typical and Shaddox feels they’re close to coming to an agreement with the workers.
“I’m very optimistic about it,” he said.
Whether or not to go on strike is not a decision the union workers are taking lightly, Vellardita said. How long a strike could last will be up to the members.
If they will hold out until the city gives in to their demands Vellardita said, “we’re not doing this to lose.”
