Overview

• SEIU Local 1021’s 76 members, including street maintenance, building inspectors, parks and recreation and planning staff, staged a three-day strike to press for wage equity.
• The union rejected the city’s proposal of 11% raises over three years and up to 24% equity adjustments, arguing that pay would still trail comparable municipalities.
• Voter-approved Measure M sales tax revenues, projected at about $10 million annually, are central to the dispute over funding equitable wage increases.
• City officials say Measure M revenues are already financing six new maintenance positions and bolstering the city’s reserves and infrastructure upgrades.
• Negotiators from Novato’s municipal government and SEIU Local 1021 returned to the bargaining table on Thursday and are set to meet again next Wednesday to pursue a contract agreement.