Sunday, October 5, the SEIU 1021 members who keep Novato running — including street maintenance workers, building inspectors, park recreation coordinators, and city planners — ratified a union contract by an 87% vote. 

The contract ratification follows months of tense negotiations and two unfair labor practice strikes: a three-day strike from August 5 to August 7 and a one-day strike on September 2. Members of SEIU Local 1021 say the fight was difficult, but their resolve has only grown stronger. 

“As part of the bargaining team, I am disappointed that the City was not willing to negotiate further to achieve a contract more deserving of the dedication and direct work city workers provide the Novato community,” said Perry Siu, a recreation supervisor for the City of Novato. “While our resolve has never been stronger to acquire a better standing among our comparable agencies, SEIU 1021 members ultimately voted to ratify this contract. We are pleased that we were able to get improvements in the employee discount program, as well as in the longevity and bilingual pay incentives.” 

Novato city workers have long raised concerns about the City’s ability to recruit and retain qualified staff. They are among the lowest paid in the region compared to workers in similar cities, even as they provide critical services that keep roads safe, prevent flooding, and maintain parks and other community spaces. 

Over the past two decades, the City has cut staffing levels dramatically. Novato’s street maintenance division once had 14 workers. Today it has just seven. 

One in five City of Novato employees have been at their jobs less than a year. 

Ultimately, Novato City Council’s refusal to fund public services deprives the Novato community of the services it deserves. 

While workers did not achieve full pay equity in this round of bargaining, they did win improvements to longevity pay, bilingual pay, and an agreement to a mid-contract salary survey, including improvements to comparable agencies and internal job classification updates — important steps forward to make the City of Novato into an employer capable of recruiting and retaining the staff necessary to serve its community.