Oakland officials to meet as workers continue strike over pay

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- The Oakland City Council will meet behind closed doors again Thursday as a strike by 3,000 city workers continues for a third day in a row.

The union wants a two-year deal with a four-percent raise each year, but Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf says that could lead to job losses.

That means all non-emergency city services will remain closed, iincluding building permits, libraries, Head Start and senior citizen programs.

There was some optimism Wednesday that the city council's closed door meeting would result in a deal, but it did not after a 2.5 hour meeting.

Schaaf announced the city is already having to stretch to make the current offer, and they can't go any further

"We are trying to get to the point where there is an agreement, so we can get our employees back to work and making sure that we as a city are providing the services that people in this city expect from us," Oakland City Councilmember Larry Reid said.

"After unable to reach a decision, we were disappointed to hear that. But we are glad they are taking the time to consider the matter. Until city council acts, we are still out on the picket lines," SEIU Local 1021 representative Rob Szykowny said.

Some workers said they can't afford to live in this city anymore and city officials said it can't afford to pay them what they want saying, if they agreed to what the union is asking, they would have to lay off 188 full time employees.

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