Additional information on labor negotiations and the City's budget status can be found in Flash Report #1.
CURRENT UPDATE
None of the City’s workforce is currently on strike. The City is now engaged with MEF and IFPTE in the factfinding process, which provides a forum – overseen by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) – where the parties can continue working toward an agreement.
The City has learned from social media that MEF and IFPTE bargaining units have received a majority positive vote to move forward with a strike if they choose to do so; however, MEF and IFPTE have each provided their assurances that there will be no strike activity until factfinding has concluded.
WHAT IS FACTFINDING?
Factfinding is a mandatory impasse process for negotiations instituted in 2011 as Assembly Bill (AB) 646.
It provides that if an employer and bargaining unit are unable to reach agreement over a matter within the scope of bargaining, the bargaining unit can request that the parties’ differences be submitted to a factfinding panel. The costs are shared equally by the parties.
The panel consists of a union member, a management member, and a neutral chairperson.
If agreement is not reached by the parties during the factfinding process, the factfinding panel will issue a recommended resolution. The recommendation is not final or binding.
The parties can agree to adopt the recommendation, do nothing with the recommendation, or an employer may impose its Last, Best, and Final Offer after a public hearing.
NEXT STEPS
The parties will engage in factfinding on September 10 and 11 with IFPTE and MEF, respectively. The City is hopeful that factfinding will result in agreement between the parties.Return to full list >>
