California’s largest public employee union, representing approximately 95,000 workers, said its members are staying home today to protest a proposed roll back of scheduled wage increases.  Services at state parks, motor vehicle offices, CalTrans and unemploymentdivision offices could be affected.

Kaiser Permanente responded to the strike threat by proposing a solution to move forward with contract negotiations, which if successful, could avert a strike. The strike could impact care at 20 hospitals and 200 clinics.

Kaiser and SEIU-UHW officials didn't meet Thursday or Friday and said the next bargaining session is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12.

The city this week announced with enthusiasm tentative agreements with three bargaining units, but the unions representing police dispatchers, building inspectors and park rangers account for a little more than just 7% of the contracts that end June 30.

Although the City does a good job posting documents on its website regarding proposals and correspondence from both sides, I believe many others would rather see the interaction of union officials and city staff in real time. Thus, on Wednesday, I am asking the Rules Committee to support my recommendation to have the city and unions talk about this issue with the hope that both parties will agree to move forward and allow these meetings to be public.

With the firefighters’ union becoming the first labor organization to formally reach a deal on compensation concessions with the city last week, this week’s City Council meeting will feature even more discussions regarding labor negotiations. Other items of note will include the approval of assistance for low-income housing and a proposed rate increase for recycling.