UPEC ends strike against county but continues negotiating with Shasta County Supervisors

REDDING. Calif. — The Shasta County Board of Supervisors held their regular meeting Tuesday. The board discussed many hot topics including United Public Employees of California (UPEC) negotiations over a pay increase.

As of Tuesday, UPECs two-week strike outside the board chambers located on Court Street concluded but the negotiations for higher wages continue.

After months of back-and-forth negotiations with the Shasta County Board of Supervisors that resulted in a two-week employee strike, there was a lot of anticipation for Tuesday's meeting. They didn't exactly reach a full conclusion but both UPEC and Shasta County told KRCR that they did move closer towards one.

RELATED ARTICLE | Shasta County Agencies take a hit while UPEC employees continue to strike for higher wages

KRCR spoke with Shasta County Public Information Officer, David Maung, about what this means for the county moving forward. “The board voted four to one to approve a counter proposal for UPEC general to take back and vote on.” Maung continued, “Right now what we want the public to know is that services are ongoing. The strike has ended as negotiations have picked back up and we are excited to continue the services that the county provides.”

UPEC Business Manager and Secretary-Treasurer, Steve Allen, told KRCR that he sees the recent negotiations and offer from the board, as a success. "The message here is if you want to make a change in how you are being treated or in your life situation sometimes you have to take a risk and step up.”

Allen continued, ”I am extremely proud, I am humbled and proud of the members that we have in Shasta County that made the decision to do a strike so they could bring attention to the issues we need resolved.”

Now since the negotiations are ongoing, the new offer made by the Board of Supervisors is confidential. As of right now the workers that were on strike have returned to their jobs and will continue to do so until there are any changes to the proposed offer from the board.

UPEC said they are going to be meeting with their members sometime in the next week to discuss the offer made by the board and say they will go from there.