San Jose City Workers Prepare for Potential Strike

The upcoming session at the San Jose First United Methodist Church follows a well-attended meeting held on July 25. City staff have been working without a contract for over a month, following the rejection of the administration’s final offer in June. Union representatives argue that the city has prioritized $325 million in hockey arena subsidies and corporate tax breaks over essential public services and fair wages.

Workers maintain that the city is currently the most thinly staffed agency in California, forcing remaining employees to manage increasing workloads. Beyond staffing levels, the unions are challenging the administration’s implementation of AI tools, which they claim lack the necessary guardrails to protect public service quality. With strike pledges already signed, union members are positioning themselves for potential work stoppages if the administration does not alter its fiscal and operational approach.