Bringing more than ten months of bargaining to a close, the Oakland City workers represented by SEIU Local 1021 ratified a two-year contract with the City of Oakland on Friday, February 23.

With provisions that increase worker safety, provide cost of living adjustments, and address the working conditions of police and fire communications dispatchers, the contract takes steps to improve public services to Oakland residents and businesses.

“This contract makes significant progress towards making Oakland a safer, fairer, more equitable place to work.” said Jeff Haymon, a City of Oakland Police Evidence Technician and SEIU 1021 Oakland Chapter Vice President “Oakland still has a long way to go on a number of issues, including the ongoing overuse of temporary employees, and we will continue to work with the City to improve conditions for employees and services for residents.”

The previous contract expired on June 30, 2017, and negotiations were marked by a seven-day strike protesting the City’s unfair labor practices, a strike that was joined by IFPTE Local 21 and IBEW Local 1245. Striking workers included police and fire dispatchers, building inspectors, librarians, sewer workers, clerks, animal control workers, park attendants, and others.

The next step for the contract to go into effect is its ratification by Oakland City Council.

SEIU Local 1021 represents over 54,000 employees in local governments, non-profit agencies, health care programs and schools throughout Northern California. The City of Oakland chapter represents 2,200 workers employed by the City of Oakland.