Solvang City Workers Remain on Strike for Second Week
SOLVANG, Calif. (KEYT) – It's been nearly two weeks since Solvang workers went on strike.
The strike began the Tuesday before Danish Days, one of the community's biggest weekends of the year.
About 30 workers have been walking a picket line by Solvang Park each day to raise awareness.
Tonight, they plan to attend the Solvang City Council meeting in hopes of reaching an agreement between the city and Teamsters Union Local 986.
"We are really looking forward to tonight's meeting, we are hopeful we can convince the council that they need to take a closer look at this and try and provide some additional authority so we can get the members back to work, " said Local 986 Business Representative Jeff Lee.
The union has been keeping many afloat by sustaining them with some funds, but it isn't enough to cover all their expenses.
"It is across the board wages, I mean, I think we are really close. I think if the council is willing to take a closure look at the situation and provide something that the members can accept, I think that they are eager to go back to work and I think the city is eager to have them back to work, it is just a matter of closing the gap and getting to where both sides can get a contract they can agree on," said Lee.
"It is tough, we want to get back to work, we want a fair contract on the table, um and yeah, we are still out here, we are staying strong as a team but I think everyone is ready to strike up a deal and get back to work," said Public Works Supervisor Johnathon Flynn.
City workers haven't taken down Danish Days signs yet or cleared gutters for Fall weather.
Some local business, including Copenhagen Liquor, are showing their support for the workers by posting union signs in their windows.
Parks and Recreation workers said they should be gearing up for upcoming events.
"We need to get back to work. We have a lot of events coming up and I need to get back at it so I am excited to do that and hopefully we can come to an agreement," said Solvang Marketing and Events Coordinator Candice Libera.
Upcoming events including The Viking Car Classic, Taste of Santa Ynez Class, Harvest Haunts and Happening that includes a spooky movie night.
Workers said department heads received pay increases a year ago and they would like to see more money in their pockets, too.
Mayor David Brown couldn't be reached to comment, but chose not to comment during negotiations in the past.
Your News Channel have more on the strike on the news tonight.
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