MEDIA ADVISORY for Wednesday, September 23, 5:00 PM
Oakland City Workers Frustrated With Understaffed Services Prepare to Strike at ‘Strike School’
On September 23, Oakland city workers will learn what it means to strike and the laws that protect their right to strike at a union-led ‘Strike School.’
(Oakland, CA) — On Wednesday, September 23, city workers represented by IFPTE Local 21 and SEIU Local 1021 will attend ‘Strike School’ to learn their rights and prepare for a possible strike if City administrators fail to address the urgent understaffing crisis. With a vacancy rate of 20%, 1 in 5 city jobs are unfilled. This crisis undermines the public services that Oakland residents rely on, including road paving, illegal dumping cleanup, and timely 911 call responses.
Mayor Barbara Lee and City administrators have thus far refused to address the City’s understaffing crisis. After months of dragged-out negotiations and the expiration of union contracts, workers express frustration at the City’s unwillingness to invest in staffing.
“Striking is always a last resort, but we’re ready to do whatever it takes to fully staff our departments so that we can deliver the high-quality services our communities deserve,” said Julian Ware, IFPTE Local 21 Oakland Vice President.
Antoinette Blue, a 911 dispatcher who serves as SEIU Local 1021’s City of Oakland Chapter President, said, “We deserve to be treated with dignity and respect at not only the bargaining table, but in our jobs every day. It’s unbelievable that we’re here now, after bargaining since March. If we’re forced to strike, it’s not because our members are eager to walk away from our work and the community we serve, it’s because standing together is the only meaningful option we have left.”
“All of our unions stand fully with Oakland city workers who are bargaining for a fair contract,” said Keith Brown, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Alameda Labor Council, which represents over 82,000 workers across the county. “When the City struggles to attract and retain experienced staff, everyone feels the impact to services.”
What: Oakland City Workers Strike School
Where: 1440 Broadway, 10th Floor
When: Wednesday, September 23, 5pm (Press welcome 5-5:30pm)*
Who: City of Oakland employees represented by IFPTE Local 21 and SEIU Local 1021
Visuals: Hundreds of city employees in union apparel, with union signs, banners, and more.
*Strike School is only open to union members. Registration will take place from 5-5:15pm and will be open to members of the press. After opening remarks, non-union members will be asked to leave at 5:30pm. Spokespeople will be available for interviews before Strike School presentations begin.
BACKGROUND: The last time Oakland city workers went on strike was nearly 10 years ago. In 2017, over 2,000 SEIU Local 1021 members refused to work in a 7-day strike. They were joined in sympathy strikes by IFPTE Local 21 and IBEW Local 1245 members, shutting down the City for a week.
