The Community Services and Part-Time Recreation Leader Association workers came to a tentative agreement for a new contract with the City of Berkeley just two days before their second strike was scheduled to begin. They have been negotiating with city leaders since February, and working with an expired contract since June 26.

In early August, City of Berkeley workers went on a two-day strike at Berkeley Day Camp. Then on Oct. 14, they picketed outside of City Hall to call for a fair contract before voting by 93% to authorize a strike.

That strike schedule for Nov. 20 and 21 has been averted now that a compromise has been reached during bargaining with management late Monday night to make sure critical services are still provided. 

“Our membership was able to organize and exercise its collective power, and that created a lot of progress at the bargaining table,” said City of Berkeley librarian Nico Ledwith. “There is always more to fight for however, and that’s why we’ll continue to organize.”

The union will now be moving to ratify the agreement next week.