Imperial County workers possibly headed towards strike
Karina Bazarte
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Imperial County workers may be heading towards a strike after the Board of Supervisors approved only a 6% salary increase.
Negotiations for a new contract began back in April.
So far, the county has presented five different proposals.
The union is holding firm on its demand for a 10% raise spread out over two years.
The county agreed to part of the workers’ demands, approving a 6% raise with 3% coming in 2025 and the other 3% in 2026.
“This is the first time, I believe in the 1980s that was the last strike that they had, but they haven’t had any challenges since the county has always offered two and half or three percent. With all this inflation, we can’t continue at those numbers anymore,” said Ruth Duarte, negotiations agent for Teamsters Union Local 542.
We reached out to the county, but only a press release was sent to us stating that on June 24, they presented their final and best counteroffer.
The workers contracts expired on July 1.
The union says they will be holding a meeting with county workers Wednesday.
Depending on what happens during the meeting, a strike could happen as early as next week.
A response from Imperial County can be read below:
