Santa Clara County Public Workers Vote To Authorize Strike Over Proposed Hikes in Health, Retirement Costs
On Tuesday, Service Employees International Union Local 521 -- Santa Clara County's largest public employee union with 9,000 members -- voted to authorize a strike to protest the county's latest labor contract. The union -- which includes public health nurses and 911 operators -- opposes proposed increases in health care and retirement costs, while county officials say the increases are necessary to address the county's $1.8 billion retiree health care debt. Union and county officials will meet Friday for the next scheduled barraging session.
- "Santa Clara County's Largest Public Employee Union Votes To Authorize Strike" (Seipel, San Jose Mercury News, 8/14).