San Jose approves pay bumps for 4,500 city workers, avoiding major strike

What may have become the largest San Jose city employee strike in decades fizzled on Tuesday after councilmembers approved a significant pay bump for about 4,500 of its workers, a major win for South Bay labor organizers who claimed their members were being short-changed in one of America’s most expensive metropolitan areas.

The two unions negotiating with the city — MEF-AFSCME Local 101 and IFPTE Local 21 — secured 14.5 to 15% wage increases over the next three years, about 3% more than what the city’s final offer was in June before talks broke down.

The two labor groups — which represent employees who work in libraries, parks and the city’s airport — threatened to have its members walk off the job starting Aug. 15 for three days if a deal wasn’t made, an action that would have disrupted key municipal services.

“It feels great,” said MET-AFSCME negotiating member John Tucker. “I know our members are excited to get back to work.”

Tucker said union members will vote to ratify the contract next week — and that the deal represents the highest jump in wages in over two decades. In total, the city has about 7,000 workers.

The San Jose wage increases come amid a flurry of labor activity across the entire state. In Santa Clara County, over 12,000 workers received historic salary raises this summer. And an ongoing Hollywood strike among writers and actors is beginning to impact industry workers residing in the Bay Area.

For months, the two San Jose unions have argued their employees aren’t adequately paid, resulting in thinly stretched city departments and low morale.

But city officials like Mayor Matt Mahan and budget director Jim Shannon have pushed back against those claims, warning that an increase in salary bumps could lead to a difficult financial state for San Jose, which has historically passed tight budgets.

“What San Jose needs is a profile of courage, and what they are seeing is politics as usual,” said Mayor Matt Mahan in a statement on Tuesday. “While a majority of my colleagues support this deal, I cannot. All along I have supported a generous raise for our workers. We have great employees at the City of San Jose and they deserve a raise.”

The vote tally from Tuesday wasn’t immediately available because it occurred in a closed session, according to the mayor’s office.