Whittier City Workers Vote 138-9 to Reject Labor Contract Offer
After seven months of talks with no deal, the association that represents many of Whittier's frontline workers told the City Council that its members want a better offer.
Whittier city workers voted 138 to nine against the city's labor contract offer, then shared the result publicly with the City Council on September 22. The two sides have been negotiating since February and still have no deal.
The vote was held by members of the Whittier City Employees' Association (WCEA), which represents many of the city's frontline workers. WCEA President Robert Martiz said the association held the vote after City Manager Conal McNamara sent employees an email about the negotiations that "made it appear that the employee bargaining team was out of touch."
"Rather than simply telling our members what to think, we gave them the opportunity to decide for themselves," he said.
Of the 147 members who voted, about 94% said no. The association said 84% of its employees took part.
Charlaine Rossi, who said she has worked for the city for 27 years, also gave a public comment addressing the City Council. "I have never seen a vote like that in my entire time here," she said. "This motivated people. Your inaction motivated people."
