(Oakland) – 87.8% of City of Oakland workers, represented by Service Employees International Union Local 1021, voted yes on a new contract with the City of Oakland on Friday, June 26. The 1,300 workers made sacrifices to save city services and jobs, and now challenge elected officials to do the same through these difficult times.

The agreement was reached after a year and a half of negotiations. It brings stability in the services that the City of Oakland workers provide. “City workers have acknowledged these difficult times and once again have delivered for the Oakland community,” said Brad Walters, SEIU's Oakland Chapter President.

Through creative restructuring of the Mayor's proposal, Oakland workers reduced the number of mandatory business shutdowns days from 26 to 11 in the upcoming year, allowing the City to keep services like parks and libraries open to the public more.

Workers will have an early retirement option that will save the City millions during this economic crisis. While health benefits will remain the same, workers will increase their retirement contributions. Overall, the package will reduce their compensation by 10 percent.

“The union-represented workers are sacrificing 10% of our compensation, which will be a hardship for many of us. Now it is time for the leadership to make the same sacrifice that we did to in order to share the pain,” stated Felipe Cuevas, an Oakland Bargaining Team member.

This agreement will take effect July 1, 2009 and workers will continue to invite Oakland elected leaders to join them in shouldering the burden during this economic crisis.