WATSONVILLE — A group of city workers gathered in Watsonville Plaza Monday afternoon, demanding higher salaries.
The workers were from Service Employees International Union chapter 521, which represents 379 water and utilities workers and administration, among other positions.
The union is in contract negotiations with the city.
“After a seven-year drought, the city offers us a proposal that is not even close to the consumer price index,” said SEIU spokesman Michael Moore. “We are just asking for dignity and respect.”
Moore pointed out that City Manager Charles Montoya received a 13 percent salary increase recently, and that the city recently shelled out money for the “rebranding” that included a new logo and website. The city is also in the midst of a downtown revitalization project.
Edward Romero, who has worked for the city’s solid waste division for 18 years, also pointed out that city employees agreed to a furlough during the recent economic recession to help the city weather the storm.
“It’s really demoralizing for this to happen,” he said.
Employers typically do not comment on specific details of ongoing budget negotiations.
In a statement to this newspaper, Watsonville Assistant City Manager Matt Huffaker said the city has been working “productively” with SEIU over the past few months.
“We are hopeful that we will reach an agreement in the coming weeks,” he said.
