Solvang Workers Strike enters Third Week
SOLVANG, Calif. (KEYT) – The Solvang City Council met in closed session with labor negotiators on Monday evening but they did not resolve the issues that led to a worker strike.
The closed session followed at least 10 public comments from workers, and community members urging the mayor and council to find a way to end city's first strike.
One business owner recommended a compromise.
Wages are the main issue.
When council members returned to council chambers, a staff member said the negotiator spoke with the union on Friday and offered to meet with the union this week and provide a date for a meeting and said the city council has directed Solvang's negotiating team to hold dates open for a meeting.
Teamster Union Local 986 Business Representative Jeff Lee said he did not recall being offered a meeting on Friday.
Lee said that means they will be back on the picket line Tuesday to begin a third week of picketing.
"We are a little unclear with the reporting that came out of closed session we have not set any kind of dates with the city formal or informal for bargaining, " said Lee " We are optimistic that this means we will get to set some dates with them, we are going to continue to stand by and wait until we hear from them if they reach out to set some dates in the meanwhile we are going to continue picketing as we have and hopefully they made some good decision in closed session that will allow us to get back to the table and get these folks and deal and get them back to work."
During Monday's picket at Solvang Park they urged supporters to honk their horns and many did.
The strike began the Tuesday before Danish Days, one of the community's biggest weekends of the year.
About 30 workers and a few community members have been walking a picket line from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays to raise awareness.
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 support by posting union signs in windows.
Parks and Recreation workers said they should be gearing up for upcoming events including some celebrating the holidays.
"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 recently received pay increases ranging from 25-40 percent.
They would like to see more money in their pockets, too.
Mayor David Brown chose not to comment before and after closed session, but in the past he has said the city would not to comment on the negotiations.
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