San Jose workers strike called off after tentative agreement, spokesperson says<\/a><\/p>\nSpeaking Tuesday outside City Hall, Jun said the unions are encouraging members to support a strike authorization vote.<\/p>\n
“We are recommending that people vote yes to strike,” he said.<\/p>\n
Jun describes bargaining with the city as having lack of progress in negotiations. “It’s frustrating for sure, because everyone here just wants to do their job,” Jun said.<\/p>\n
Some members say money is a big concern.<\/p>\n
“We’re looking for something fair, something that keeps up with inflation,” said Dylan Kuhlmann-Halui, who works in the city’s parks, recreation and neighborhood services department.<\/p>\n
He is a union steward for MEF-AFSCME Local 101.<\/p>\n
Kuhlmann-Halui said the cost of living in Silicon Valley continues to strain workers’ budgets.<\/p>\n
He said, “Rent is going up 8% this month. My daycare for my daughter is going up 6%. With this contract 3%, I’m going to be poorer tomorrow than I am today.”<\/p>\n
If no agreement is reached, a strike could affect city services including libraries, housing, animal care, public works and some airport operations.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Mayor Matt Mahan said, “Like our County and State, San Jose can’t spend money we don’t have. And like working families across our city, we’ve had to sit around the kitchen table and make some difficult financial decisions.”<\/p>\n
Mahan said the city had made room for raises. Public documents show the city’s last, best and final offer presented a 3% annual raise over three years.<\/p>\n
This was documented on June 11, 2026.<\/p>\n
Mahan wrote, “Three of our unions have already said yes. I urge the two unions that haven’t yet to come back to the table so we can get them the raises they deserve without putting at risk the jobs people depend on or the services residents rely on.”<\/p>\n
Union leaders are demanding more.<\/p>\n
They said recruitment and retention remain key priorities in the negotiations.<\/p>\n
They also are seeking artificial intelligence guardrails to protect workers’ jobs.<\/p>\n
“We’re looking for a fair contract. We’re just looking for the city to support us,” Kuhlmann-Halui said.<\/p>\n
The current bargaining round comes three years after the city and the unions reached an agreement in 2023<\/a> as a strike loomed.<\/p>\nIf a strike occurs, it would be the first by San Jose city workers in nearly 20 years and would come nearly 45 years after a landmark 1981 city-worker strike over pay inequity.<\/p>\n
As voting continues through the week, both sides remain at odds and the possibility of a strike remains unresolved.<\/p>\n
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