How Bargaining Works
Our Union bargaining team meets with the City on the first, third and fifth, Thursdays of each month. Each side passes proposed changes to the contract back and forth. No changes are final until both sides agree (this is called reaching a Tentative Agreement or “TA”). Once all proposed changes reach a Tentative Agreement all of the changes go out to the Union Members and the City Council for ratification votes. If our Union and City leadership both vote yes to the proposed changes, we have a new contract. If either side votes no, the Union and City go back to the bargaining table until a new Tentative Agreement is reached.
Bargaining Timeline
Bargaining on the Recreation Contract Began on February 12th. All articles in the contract that either side plans on changing have to be opened by June 30th. Our contract expires on September 30th, 2026. Bargaining will likely last past that expiration date. Our current contract will live on until a new agreement is reached.
Based upon the legal guidelines for public employee bargaining, the earliest our Union could call for a strike would be November. Any movement toward a strike would require a vote of our membership authorizing it and would be communicated by Union leadership loudly and often.
How to Stay Informed
Contract Action Team - Our Contract action team (CAT) members will be able to tell you what’s happening in negotiations and share your ideas for the contract with our bargaining team.
Follow Bargaining updates– We will release a bargaining update over email after bargarning sessions.
Attend a hybrid baragining session, in person or virtual. We send out session invites and reminders usually the day after bargaining.