Bargaining Update 2

We met again with the City today (2/26/26) for our second 2026 bargaining session.

You can watch the tldr video update here:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVPIprhkk8M/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Here’s a brief overview of what happened.

Today, the union presented several substantive proposals focused on retention, flexibility, and economic support for our members.

We proposed longevity pay that would provide employees with eight or more years of service up to 4% additional base salary in recognition of experience and commitment to this City.

We proposed a dependent care assistance benefit of up to $5,000 per year to help offset childcare, elder care, and other dependent care expenses.

We also proposed reinstating the voluntary furlough program, allowing employees to take up to 160 hours of unpaid time off per year, in increments as small as 1 hour, at your discretion.

Unfortunately, the City did not bring forward any proposals of their own and did not provide substantive responses to the proposals we have already introduced.

We are now scheduled to meet every Thursday moving forward. As always, your visibility and engagement matter. Please wear your green shirts on bargaining days if you have them. If you do not, more are on the way.

This will be a long road, especially given the City’s public narrative around the budget. But we are moving forward with real proposals that reflect what we have heard from you. Our wage increase proposal is coming soon...

More updates will continue weekly.

In Solidarity,

Your MEF -- AFSCME Local 101 Bargaining Team