Santa Clara County workers reject package proposal that recently averted a strike

Source: San Jose Mercury News

SAN JOSE -- After a marathon bargaining session averted a strike by thousands of Santa Clara County workers, SEIU 521, the county's largest employee union, announced late Friday that the tentative agreement reached with officials less than two weeks ago had been rejected.

"The tentative agreement was a package proposal from the county which required that all bargaining units pass their respective side agreements in order to ratify the entire (agreement). One bargaining unit voted "NO" resulting in the entire (agreement) being rejected," according to a statement on the union's website.

Union spokeswoman Khanh Weinberg said little else could be released on why the agreement fell through, including who voted for or against the proposal. She said the union's bargaining team would be meeting this weekend to discuss next steps.

Weinberg could not say if, or when, union members would strike.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_28467470/santa-clara-county-workers-reject-package-proposal-that