Today, Tuesday, August 5, the SEIU 1021 members who keep Novato running — including street maintenance workers, building inspectors, park recreation coordinators, and city planners — began an unfair labor practice strike.

The unfair labor practice strike follows a 98% strike authorization vote passed by the SEIU 1021 bargaining unit on Tuesday, July 29.

Paul Perryman, a senior maintenance worker for the City of Novato Public Works, has worked for city for 18 years. This is the first strike of Novato city workers in all that time. “The city’s getting older. As a lifelong resident of the city of Novato, I see the failing of the infrastructure of the city. The reduction of staff in maintenance has created a situation where things have to get done and we’re unable to meet those needs for the City of Novato,” he said.

“I really hope that the strike sends a message to City Hall and the citizens that we’re serious about the work we do; we take pride in the work they do. We’d like to see them get to treat us fairly in relationship to other cities. We’re losing employees to other cities. They come here, get trained, and go to other cities with better opportunities. We have high turnover in Novato.”

Perry Siu, a recreation supervisor for the City of Novato, said, ”Novato’s public services run because of its employees. We love our jobs. We don’t want to go on strike. But we have to hold the City of Novato accountable to the community, its employees, and its fiscal commitments to public services.” 

During the November 2024 elections, Novato voters passed Measure M. Replacing a former sales tax, Measure M is estimated to bring in $10 million of locally controlled revenue per year. As described on the City of Novato’s website, this funding was proposed to “directly support community-identified priorities such as public safety and emergency response, roadway repairs, and parks and facilities maintenance.” 

Unfortunately, Novato City Council is refusing to follow through on their promise to Novato’s voters. 

The City of Novato is facing a severe recruitment and retention crisis, with one in five SEIU 1021-represented employees having been on the job for less than a year. The City should follow its strategic plan so that we can fix Novato’s potholes and keep our city safe.