San Jose City Employees Prepare for Strike Amid Stalled Negotiations

The training sessions focused on the legal framework surrounding labor actions and the logistics of a walkout. For employees, the core issue remains the city’s current contract proposal, which they argue fails to account for the ballooning cost of living in Silicon Valley. Michael Jun, a senior development officer in the housing department, described the potential strike as a last resort intended to preserve staff retention and ensure the delivery of critical public services.

Beyond compensation, the labor coalition is voicing concerns over staffing levels and the unchecked integration of artificial intelligence. Jean Cohen, executive officer of the South Bay Labor Council, characterized the city as the most thinly staffed agency in California, warning that current management practices force employees to do more with fewer resources. As the city administration faces pressure to return to the bargaining table, union representatives are continuing to collect strike pledges from their 4,500-member workforce, preparing for a formal authorization vote if the standoff persists.