For Immediate Release: June 28, 2017
Contact: Rudy Gonzalez, (650) 273-3790, rgonzalez@ibt856.org

Workers will strike in response to unfair labor practices by the city

City of Orinda workers, members of Teamsters 856, have voted to go on strike to protest unfair labor practices committed by the city. These workers include city administrative staff, parks and recreation employees, workers in the engineering and planning departments, and civilian workers who respond to citizen requests in the City of Orinda Police Department.

Teamsters 856 filed unfair labor practice charges against the City of Orinda, charging the city with bargaining in bad faith. Workers will protest with a strike on Monday, July 3, and will return to work on Wednesday, July 5, 2017.

The strike was called to draw attention to the city’s bad faith negotiating and to demonstrate that city management isn’t above the law.

“They’ve been arbitrarily refusing to negotiate with us over important topics,” said Robbie Thompson, a maintenance worker for the City of Orinda. “We want to be treated with respect and the games they play in bargaining are just plain unfair.”

Workers are hopeful that the city will heed the protest and cease and desist.

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Founded in 1949, Teamsters Local 856 represents more than 12,000 hardworking members in the San Francisco Bay Area, North Bay, Sacramento, and Central Valley communities.