By Diana Samuels Daily News Staff Writer San Jose Mercury News September 25, 2009
More than 300 Palo Alto city employees stayed away from their jobs Thursday in an action union heads described as a "self-imposed furlough day" and city officials as a "strike," forcing several libraries and a utilities office to close.
Hundreds of workers dressed in purple - the color of Service Employees International Union Local 521, which represents about 600 city employees including librarians, clerks and utility workers - gathered in front of city hall for much of the day, holding signs and chanting "We are Palo Alto, support your city workers." It was the latest move in a monthslong labor dispute as the city and union try to negotiate a new contract.
In all, 305 people, or nearly 60 percent of the SEIU's 526 employees scheduled to work Thursday, didn't show up. About 100 employees were required to work after the city went to court Wednesday to deem them "essential" to maintaining health and safety.
The SEIU employees who skipped work marched and chanted at City Hall and the Utility Department's Municipal Service Center. They billed the occasion as a "volunteer day" and spent a few hours sweeping and picking up trash at city parks and streets. Early in the morning, KCBS radio reported that a crowd of picketers in front of the Municipal Service Center backed up traffic on Highway 101.
"(The strike) is unfortunate and not helpful," said Rob de Geus, a division manager for recreation and golf services who is on the city's negotiating team. "We have not reached an impasse at this point, and we would like to sit down and continue our negotiations."
City libraries were particularly affected. All but Mitchell Park were closed, and its hours were reduced. The Utilities Customer Service Center at city hall also was closed. Though other city facilities remained open, they were short-staffed and some services were limited.
At the libraries, a steady stream of patrons walked up to find a "closed" sign on the door. Many said they had heard about the strike but didn't realize it would impact the libraries. Some said it was an inconvenience, while others shrugged it off.
"I just wanted to check on the computer and see if some of my books were in," said Palo Alto resident Tom Kearns at the Downtown Library, adding that he supports the union. "I'll live."
Jeff Chase sat with his laptop on a cement block outside the library, still able to access the Wi-Fi network. "It's not that big of a deal," he said.
Lisa Norman said she comes to the Main Library once a week to pick up new books for her 6-year-old son Dylan's home schooling.
"It's an effort to get here, and then when you get here you've got to reschedule your whole program," she said, as Dylan slid books into the return slot.
Back at city hall, picketer and Mitchell Park library specialist Andrew Joice said he would tell inconvenienced residents: "I'm sorry, but please support us. We need your support."
He disputed claims that city workers are overpaid, saying he makes about $48,000 per year as a library specialist at Mitchell Park Library and supplements that with another job at a library in Santa Clara.
"If we're so rich and making all of this money, why am I working two jobs in two cities, and am also on a low-income housing list?" he asked.
He said the Santa Clara job pays more per hour than Palo Alto, but Palo Alto has always offered better benefits. Now, the city wants to cut those.
"Why wouldn't I just go to work for Santa Clara, get paid more and get better benefits?" he asked.
The city and union have had 22 negotiating sessions so far. The city is asking for salary and benefit reductions, while the union proposes smaller cuts. The city says SEIU's solutions are short-term, while the union counters that the city has millions in reserves it should use to avoid cutting employee compensation.
"The primary sticking point," de Geus said, "is how we look at the fiscal reality that we're facing."
The union said it was saving the city $281,000 by taking the day off without pay, but city officials said that figure would be accurate only if all union members did not work.
Assistant to the City Manager Kelly Morariu said the city had not yet planned any disciplinary actions for the SEIU workers.
"We're still dealing with the fallout of not having our employees, and (discipline) is something we'll discuss," she said.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13417895
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