(MARTINEZ, CALIF.) — More than 2,000 Contra Costa County Teamsters are poised to walk off the job after voting by over 90% to authorize a strike if a new agreement cannot be reached.  Contra Costa County Teamsters work in over 250 classifications, serving the public throughout the County in health services, general services and maintenance, and licensed vocational nursing and aides. 

The overwhelming strike authorization vote, which had unprecedented participation, comes after months of negotiations wherein Teamster members have urged the County to adopt a fair compensation structure that prioritizes equity and values the people that provide critical services to the community. The Teamsters contract expired on June 30.

“Contra Costa County has consistently lagged behind neighboring jurisdictions when it comes to compensation,” said Matt Finnegan, Teamsters 856 Director of Public Services and Chief Negotiator. “We are simply asking the County to implement a long-term plan to address these inequities to ensure that the best qualified employees can afford to continue to serve the public in the County they love.”

Negotiations with the County are set to resume on July 28. 

“We’re hopeful that the County administration has heard us loud and clear and we will reach an agreement that addresses our concerns and averts a strike that would impact services countywide,” said Finnegan.

Founded in 1949, Teamsters Local 856 is affiliated with the 1.3 million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters and has grown to become one of the largest Teamster Locals in California with over 20,000 members.