What’s at stake?
City of Fresno officials say they have a contingency plan ready in the event that 400 supervisors and professionals go on strike for higher wages and guaranteed time-off.
The City of Fresno’s union representing roughly 400 white collar supervisors across city departments voted to strike for the first time in union history.
The City of Fresno Professional Employees Association, or CFPEA, hasn’t determined yet when the strike will start or how long it will be. More details will be decided after a union meeting Wednesday, CFPEA President Jesse Gonzalez told Fresnoland in a telephone interview Tuesday.
But he said it’s necessary to reach a “fair and equitable deal” with the city.
“Impact on services is not the goal,” Gonzalez said. “But this was the first time my unit has ever had to take these steps.”
The city has a contingency plan ready if a strike occurs, according to a news release shared with reporters Monday evening.
“While we are disappointed by today’s outcome, our priority remains serving the residents of Fresno and ensuring continuity of operations,” City Manager Georgeanne White said in the statement.
City officials also are “open to constructive dialogue aimed at reaching a resolution,” the release said.
How did we get here?
CFPEA represents roughly 400 white collar supervisors and professionals who work for the City of Fresno.
The union covers a range of positions, including transit supervisors, wastewater system and operations supervisors, accountants, paralegals and engineers.
The union contract expired in December 2023, and negotiations with the city have been going on for over a year.
The union declared an impasse in October after receiving the city’s last, best and final offer.
The parties failed to reach an agreement at an impasse meeting in November, and the union declined mediation and a fact-finding process. Gonzalez attributed that to the fact that the process is non-binding, even if the process rules in their favor.
CFPEA’s strike vote then took place last week, he said, with 77% of voting members approving a strike.
What are the sticking points for CFPEA?
Gonzalez said one of the biggest sticking points for CFPEA relates to a compensation study conducted about six years ago, referenced in the union’s most recent contract.
The study, Gonzalez said, looked at compensation data for similar positions in other cities across California.
“Even back in 2017, I have positions that I represent that were double-digits behind other areas,” he said. “Even, like, Clovis.”
Gonzalez said the city agreed to phased salary increases based on the study, but said it’s dragging its feet on implementing them in full.
The city’s last, best and final offer to CFPEA proposes to complete the last phase – but in exchange for a 2% raise for all members, lower than the 3% the union says it’s holding out for.
“It’s kind of them holding it hostage,” Gonzalez said of the increases promised after the compensation study. “The city owes my people both increases, but they’re not willing to pay them unless they agree to something else – even though it’s already been agreed-upon.”
Other sticking points revolve around creating an on-call schedule for emergencies and guaranteeing supervisors get “at least 24 hours off” a week.
“Obviously the city is a 24-hour operation,” Gonzalez said, “and there are some departments that have to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day.”
The schedule the union’s advocating for would allow supervisors to take turns being on-call for emergencies to guarantee each supervisor uninterrupted time off.
“It’s literally just 24 hours of no work a week,” Gonzalez said. “They don’t understand the concept.”
What else was in the city’s offer?
In addition to the 2% raise, the city’s offer proposes a 1% one-time salary increase.
Other compensation payments the city put forward in its offer are increased safety shoe vouchers, uniform allowances and safety glasses reimbursements.
The offer included expanded benefits as well, including an option for employees to credit unused holiday leave into a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) at retirement.
What’s next for the supervisors’ strike?
Gonzalez didn’t say whether the strike would happen before the end of the year or how long it may last.
The union is “working on those details,” however, and he said he would know more after a meeting with the executive board and membership Wednesday.
The work stoppage will be for a fixed number of days rather than an open-ended strike, Gonzalez said.
The City of Fresno plans to maintain “the delivery of essential services” if the strike happens, city officials stressed in Monday’s release.
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