BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 The City of Bakersfield has approved a new labor agreement with its largest employee union as city officials continue to navigate a tight budget and an ongoing hiring freeze.<\/p>\n
The agreement with the Service Employees International Union covers more than 1,000 city employees, including clerical staff, dispatchers and other frontline workers outside of police and fire.<\/p>\n
City Manager Christian Clegg said the agreement reflects the city\u2019s effort to move forward while balancing fiscal limitations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat it means for city workers is that we\u2019re moving forward in a good way with our labor agreement,\u201d Clegg said. \u201cIt\u2019s important to us to be in good standing with our labor partners.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under the contract, SEIU-represented employees will receive a 2% pay increase beginning with their first paycheck in 2026, followed by another 2% cost-of-living adjustment in July 2026.<\/p>\n
Clegg said the smaller increases compared with past contracts reflect the city\u2019s current financial reality, as expenditures continue to outpace revenues.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur expenditures continued to rise at a faster rate than our revenues, and they\u2019re not keeping up, so we\u2019ve had to do some adjustments and some right-sizing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Those adjustments include a hiring freeze that has been in place since July, affecting more than 100 vacant positions. City officials say the freeze has already generated more than $8 million in savings, allowing the city to prioritize employee retention.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could probably survive with less total employees if that means we\u2019re able to recruit and retain our existing employees a little bit better,\u201d Clegg said.<\/p>\n
The agreement also includes a new holiday closure, with City Hall shutting down between Christmas Eve and New Year\u2019s Day. City officials said the change was requested by employees and does not add additional costs.<\/p>\n
Unlike previous negotiations, the contract does not include retroactive back pay. Clegg said the city ruled out retroactive pay early in the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t want to continue to move forward with having these retroactives,\u201d he said. \u201cWe needed to get to a good agreement and then just move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Clegg said some frozen positions could begin reopening as early as January, though many will remain on hold as the city continues reassessing staffing levels and programs.<\/p>\n
In a statement, SEIU said union members ratified the contract despite uncertainty in state and federal funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmid uncertainty in state and federal funding, City of Bakersfield SEIU 521 members ratified a new contract that secures guaranteed annual wage increases for the next two years while protecting jobs \u2014 demonstrating a responsible partnership with the City that safeguards the essential services residents rely on,\u201d the union said.<\/p>\n
Clegg said the agreement also sets the tone for ongoing negotiations with the city\u2019s police and fire unions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt represents that balance for the city between living within our means and making space for our employees,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
City officials said negotiations with police and fire unions are still ongoing, though no additional agreements have been brought forward for approval.<\/p>\n
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