Union says 1,000 members marched to protest stalled contract talks

CBS-5

FAIRFIELD (BCN)

Hundreds of Solano County workers left their jobs at noon today and marched through Fairfield to protest their lack of a contract with the county.

Carlos Rivera, spokesman for the Service Employees International Union 1021, said 1,000 union members participated during the two-hour march and "extended utility break" to the Solano County Government Center at 675 Texas St. Union members were bused in from Vallejo and Vacaville for the march. Rivera said union members elected not to go back to work after the march but to return to their communities and distribute leaflets.

The union represents cleaning and security workers, health care employees and other public employees.

Fairfield police reported there were no arrests or disturbances.

Police informed the union marchers of the route they were to take after leaving the union's headquarters at 844 Jackson. Rivera said 950 marchers went east on Kentucky Street and south on Jefferson Street to the county government center but 50 marchers remained on Texas Street.

Police said a city ordinance requires 22 days notice to get a parade permit, but Chief of Police Kenton Rainey informed the union Monday the marchers would be allowed to take that route.

Rivera said 46 percent of the union's 2,300 members voted on the county's latest offer last week. Of that 46 percent, 86 percent rejected the county's offer, Rivera said. The current contract expired last October and there has been no bargaining session since March 13, Rivera said.

Rivera said the disputed issues involve members' job security if they become sick or injured and flexible work schedules. He said the county wants to shorten allotted leave from 9 months to 12 weeks for employees with severe injuries or sickness and take away flexible work schedules for workers who are needed to provide services past 5 p.m.

Solano County Administrator Michael D. Johnson said on the county's Web site Wednesday the county's offer is fair and "consistent with our commitment to be a good employer and fiscally responsible to the taxpayers."

Johnson said the county is waiting for a counter-offer from the union and the county is committed to working with a mediator to end 11 months of negotiations.

Rivera said this afternoon another negotiating sessions is scheduled for May 2.