Sunday, August 20, 2006

County Might Strike

The impact on the Parkway (already at the bottom of the funding priority list) when and if county employees strike, could be substantial.

A large part of our organization’s work involves encouraging the consideration of a nonprofit organization contracting with local government to manage the Parkway.

A major aspect of this arrangement would be the ability to keep the Parkway at the top of the agenda rather than the bottom.

An excerpt.

County readies to plug gaps
As Sept. 5 deadline looms, unions say strike would snarl crucial services.
By Ed Fletcher -- Bee Staff WriterPublished 12:01 am PDT Sunday, August 20, 2006


Traffic lights on the fritz, canceled welfare checks and trash accumulating on the streets are among the worst-case scenarios looming if labor leaders and Sacramento County negotiators fail to craft new contracts by Sept. 5.

"Basically it will be a mess everywhere," said Sandra Poole, executive director of the labor unit representing county office staff and welfare workers.

A coalition of unions representing Sacramento County's labor force -- calling the county's current contract offers unacceptable -- says it's ready to walk out Sept. 5.

Initially, the strike date was Sept. 1 but has been pushed back.

The job action is expected to mobilize a range of county employees, including restaurant inspectors, accountants, jail-house nurses and office assistants.

An internal county memo predicts that as many as 8,300 workers, representing nearly 60 percent of the total labor force, would join a strike.