Contra Costa County Workers Ratify Contract to Avert Strike
A potential work stoppage involving 2,100 Contra Costa County employees ended this week as Teamsters Local 856 members overwhelmingly ratified a new two-year agreement. The vote follows a 92 percent strike authorization, forcing a mediated resolution that secures immediate wage hikes and a comprehensive review of county compensation structures.
The deal, retroactive to August 1, provides staff in health services, vocational nursing, and maintenance with cost-of-living raises and fully employer-paid medical coverage. Negotiators prioritized a cooperative salary study, mandating its completion at least 60 days before the contract expires on July 31, 2028. This mechanism aims to address long-standing grievances regarding the county's pay scale.
Matt Finnegan, the union's chief negotiator, noted that the survey will provide essential data for future bargaining sessions. Peter Finn, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 856, credited the breakthrough to the collective resolve of the workforce. By threatening to withhold labor, the union secured terms intended to stabilize staffing and improve how the county manages employee compensation.
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