City of Novato Declares Impasse in Negotiations with SEIU

After months of negotiations and two employee strikes, the City of Novato has declared impasse with SEIU Local 1021, which represents city maintenance workers, building inspectors, parks and recreation coordinators, planners and office assistants. The current SEIU contract expired on June 30, 2025.

Because the parties have been unable to reach an agreement, the City's declaration of impasse invites SEIU to participate in mediation. Mediation is designed to resolve outstanding issues on specific negotiated terms without disrupting service delivery to the community.

Negotiations between the City and SEIU have centered on key factors, including adjustments to base wages and equity of salaries in the market. With the support of Measure M, the City's offer to SEIU includes:

• A base salary increase of 11% over three years.
• Up to an additional 13% equity adjustment (total increase of up to 24%) to move positions closer to market median.
• Continued 100% coverage of medical benefits for employees and their families (absorbing a 6% increase in premiums this year) while offering flexible work schedules and providing eight additional weeks of paid parental leave.

These benefits are consistent with the City's long-term commitment to providing competitive compensation that sustains a strong and stable workforce, ensures the continued delivery of high-quality services to our community, and recognizes the valuable contributions of our dedicated employees. SEIU members can vote to accept the City's offer at any time during the impasse process.

"The City has made a strong effort to reach an agreement with SEIU," said Mayor Tim O'Connor. "We've successfully reached agreements with all our other employee groups and had hoped to do the same with SEIU. While it is unfortunate that we have reached impasse, we remain committed to finding a resolution that supports both our employees and the community we serve."

If no agreement is reached in mediation, the process moves to factfinding, where a panel-made up of one representative from each party (City and SEIU) and a neutral third member selected by the State of California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) or mutually agreed upon by both the City and SEIU-reviews the issues and makes a non-binding recommendation. Afterwards, the City may choose to adopt the recommendation or implement its final offer.

The City remains committed to a fair and timely resolution.