BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — The one-day strike from Kern County union workers started Wednesday morning in Bakersfield and other locations. SEIU members say they are fighting for higher wages and better working conditions.
- County employees represented by SEIU Local 521 are striking for better working conditions and fair wages.
- The strike culminated at the county administrative building with workers demanding action from the Board of Supervisors.
- SEIU 521 Chapter President Alicia Aleman criticizes the county for ignoring employee concerns about staffing and workload.
- Assistant County Administrative Officer Stacey Kuwuhara states the county is ready to negotiate but must maintain financial responsibility.
- Negotiations between the union and county have been ongoing since May with no resolution in sight.
For your convenience, the skimmable summary above is generated with the assistance of AI and fact checked by our team prior to publication. Read the full story as originally reported below.
Broadcast transcript:
County employees, members of the SEIU Local 521 striking Wednesday morning, I'm Sam Hoyle your neighborhood reporter, strikers in front of county buildings all culminating at the county administrative building asking for better working conditions and fair wages.
Wednesday started off quiet, as county workers picketed their respective buildings, before the strike culminated downtown.
"We're understaffed, we're overworked, and we can't keep up with the demands of the community, and that's something that the Board of Supervisors is not recognizing. It has to be addressed," said Alicia Aleman, SEIU 521 Chapter President and DHS Social Worker.
Alicia Aleman wears many hats: most days she's a social worker for Kern Department of Human Services, however, on Wednesday, she's the SEIU 521 Chapter President saying that the county is ignoring its employees.
"We've been trying to address it for a very long time, and it's time for them to do something about it. So we have always been open, you know, for them to come back and negotiate with us. But that hasn't happened up to date, and so they need to acknowledge that there is an issue in Kern County."
"Our current proposal to SEIU is at a cost of $36 million annually. Every 1% that's asked for is an additional ongoing cost of $5 million annually," said Stacey Kuwuhara, Assistant County Administrative Officer and Acting Chief Communications Officer.
[Kuwuhara] said the county is ready to negotiate, but the county wants to remain financially responsible. "We take our responsibilities to our taxpayers very seriously. We really want to ensure that we are being prudent and sustainable with the funds" said Kuwuhara. "From here, we've invited them into the next step, which is negotiations and mediation. We are ready and willing and eager to get into mediation, and we wait to hear back from SEIU."
Right now, both sides appear to be nowhere near settling their differences, negotiations have been on and off since May. Union officials however, have declined to say how much of an increase they are asking from the county, citing ongoing negotiations.
In talking with leaders at SEIU, they say this is just the first step and they will continue to apply pressure as negotiations ramp up.
The one-day strike from Kern County union workers started Wednesday morning in Bakersfield and other locations. SEIU members say they are fighting for higher wages and better working conditions.
The strike was announced last week. Kern County has responded to the strike by closing several departments for the day, or offering limited services are others.
Emergency services such as the Kern County Sheriff's Office, and Kern County Fire are still available.
A release from Kern County lists some of the departments and services impacted on March 5th:
Aging and Adult Services:
- Closed to the public
Airport:
- Commercial flights will continue as scheduled.
- Admin offices will be closed.
Animal Services:
- Closed to the public, will reopen 3/6.
Child Support Services:
- All offices will be closed to the public.
District Attorney:
- Closed to the public.
General Services:
- Closed to the public.
Human Services:
- All offices will be closed to the public.
Libraries:
- All will be closed.
Public Health:
- Closed to the public.
Veterans Service:
- Closed to the public.
This is a developing story.
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