The picket lines started up at 7 a.m. at City Hall and the city's equipment services facility at 7101 Edgewater Drive.
The strike includes roughly 2,000 members of Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and roughly 1,000 members of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 21, who are on a "sympathy strike," according to a statement issued by the striking workers Wednesday morning.
They're protesting low staffing levels, problems retaining employees, as well as community health and safety issues associated with illegal dumping, and a shortage of crews to deal with it. They're also objecting to mandatory overtime for emergency dispatchers -- a group represented by the unions involved -- and reliance on part-time employees.
Labor organizers say the City Council is scheduled to enter into closed session to discuss the strike at 1 p.m.
Union workers plan to issue "passes" allowing councilmembers to cross the picket line.
Mayor Libby Schaaf issued a counter-accusation on Monday, saying the strike is an unfair labor practice unto itself since negotiations are not yet at an impasse.
"We view this strike as unlawful and will file an unfair labor practice charge," Schaaf said.
Programs and facilities that will be closed include:
Head Start and Early Head Start sites
Senior Centers
Public libraries
Recreation centers and programs, including after school programs
Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP): No case management services for frail seniors except for scheduled home visits
No brown bag food distribution
Civic Center buildings: City Hall, 150 and 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza:
Parking Citation Assistance Center closed
Housing Assistance Center closed
No sale of paratransit taxi/bus vouchers
No fire inspections
No Fire Department plan checking and permits
No building inspections
Business Tax License closed
Business Assistance Center closed
Planning & Building Permit Counter closed
Other services that will be unavailable include:
No parking enforcement
No street sweeping
No public restrooms at City facilities
No routine maintenance work
No abandoned auto detail
No crime or traffic reports
For towed vehicles, OPD will provide a vehicle release form at the Police Administration Building, 455 7th Street, 1st floor, Records window.
Oakland's animal shelter will provide limited services during the strike: The Oakland Animal Shelter (OAS) will be open during regular hours for owners looking to reclaim their lost animals and for members of the public who must bring in stray or surrendered animals.
Routine services such as adoptions and licensing will not occur.
Partner agencies will transfer animals from OAS' care so that they may be adopted through alternate channels.
Volunteers will assist management to care for the animals in the shelter.
Calls for emergency response on animal-related matters should be directed to OPD.
Calls for routine services including dead animal pickup, strays, and other non-emergency calls will be delayed for the duration of the strike.
Some services will remain available, including:
Pay a parking citation
Report and track non-emergency problems, such as graffiti, illegal dumping or potholes
Report non-emergency crimes
Renew a residential parking permit
Pay a delinquent garbage bill
Download agenda reports and legislative actions of the City Council
Register for a City of Oakland dog license
Register for Parks and Recreation activities and classes
Review the library's Online Catalog and web-based services