Burlingame workers are ready to strike

“Our union members who are hard-working city employees spoke to the City Council and exercised their free speech rights, and shortly after that, these city managers made statements that were clearly aimed at stifling workers’ voices and their basic rights to free speech,” Palmquist said.

The state’s Public Employment Relations Board issued an unfair labor practice complaint against the city Sept. 8. In early June, several employees attended a City Council meeting to speak in favor of fair wages. The next day, an employee at the meeting allegedly asked police Capt. Robert Boll a routine operational question. Boll allegedly said, “Why don’t you ask the AFSCME people.” While speaking to a group of employees who voiced the need for a pay increase, Park Superintendent Richard Holtz allegedly responded that they should talk with him if they didn’t like working for the city for the pay they receive, adding he would help them find another place to work, according to a PERB complaint.

However, City Manager Lisa Goldman said the AFSCME Local 829 made allegations with which the city does not agree.

Local 829 represents many city workers, some who work in parks, or are water system operators, street sweepers, sewer system operators, electricians, mechanics and maintenance employees, according to a press release. Since May, the city and the union have tried to reach a labor agreement, but Goldman said the two sides have yet to find a deal that would be fair for the union workers and financially sustainable for the city.

“We are hoping that we can get to a resolution soon,” Goldman said.

Palmquist said the potential strike is over unfair labor practices.

“To my knowledge, the city’s Human Resources Department has not done anything about these managers’ illegal statements, and the city needs to stop the unfair labor practice and interfering with our members’ rights to free speech,” Palmquist said.

City employee Joleen Helley said the city pays 6% less than neighboring cities doing similar jobs, according to the release.

Before the potential for a strike, the union members would need to vote with the majority in favor. At that point, Palmquist said the union would attempt to reach an advanced agreement with the city to maintain essential services because it doesn’t want to jeopardize public health or safety.