Bargaining Update – March 24, 2025

Our Day of Action was incredibly successful! Thank you to everyone who showed up to talk to us in person and online. It was really inspiring to see the power of our Union in action!  

We’re still tallying up the final numbers, but we reached around 150 bargaining unit employees! Most were already members (which is awesome), but nearly every non-member who showed up signed a card on the spot! That means a stronger membership, a stronger voice, and a stronger position at the bargaining table!  

There were some issues employees were bringing up across the board:

1. Telework: This is a must-have, not a “privilege” — and we’re fighting to protect it!  
2. High workloads, smaller teams?: We hear it, we feel it — and it’s not sustainable.  
3. One-Time-Only Funds? What’s the purpose of reserves if not to help during an emergency, like this level of staff cuts?
4. On-call staff need love too: fair benefits, fair treatment, more consistency!
5. Reclassification: Scope creep is real, and folks should be paid for the work they actually do.  
6. Auto base pay & mileage rates? Too low. And parking costs are starting to hurt.  
7. Bargaining Observation: The Team does not share the names of any observer with management. Keep showing up and encourage other employees to join in! 

And yes, people are asking: What does a Strike look like? When can we do it? These are serious questions, and we’ll have more specific answers for you. Part of it is determined by PECBA, which we outlined in our March 3rd Bargaining Update. But, when the time comes, our members vote to authorize a strike. For the early birds, check out Labor Notes’ Guide on How to Strike and Win.

We also heard people feel frustrated with or have been hurt by our Union at times. We hope these updates and more frequent communication help mend that relationship, even in a small way. We know there’s still more to be done. To be clear, we still believe an injury to one is an injury to all. We stand together, we fight together, and we win together. 

Let’s keep this momentum going! Stay engaged, stay loud, and let’s remind management this is our union, and we don’t back down.