The City of Novato was notified on the evening of Monday, August 4, that represented employees from SEIU Local 1021 which include street maintenance workers, building inspectors, park and recreation coordinators, and city planners would begin a strike effective 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5. At this time, SEIU has not informed the City how long the strike will last.
The City’s labor negotiation team has been actively engaged in good faith negotiations with SEIU since early 2025.
Statement from the Novato City Council
“With the support of Measure M, we’ve offered 11% raises over three years for all SEIU employees, with some receiving up to 24% through equity adjustments — while maintaining long-term financial sustainability.
Despite multiple attempts to meet with SEIU over the past month, SEIU has chosen to prematurely strike instead of lawfully continuing negotiations.
We are disappointed by this decision. We urge SEIU to return to the table in good faith so we can reach a fair and competitive agreement for Novato employees and stay focused on delivering high-quality services to the Novato community.”
Service-Level Impacts
The City is implementing contingency staffing plans to reduce the impact on the community and essential services. Due to the SEIU strike, community members may notice the following:
- Longer response times for administrative services and certain field operations
- Reduced staffing or modified hours at public counters and service desks
- Delays in processing permits, requests, and non-emergency inquiries
- Parks and Recreation:
- Summer camps are being assessed; families will be contacted directly
- Athletic programs are being assessed; teams and players will be contacted directly
- Gymnastics classes and camps will be closed through Saturday
- Margaret Todd Senior Center will remain open
- Hamilton Pool will remain open
Police services are not impacted due to the SEIU strike.
City departments will work together to cover critical functions, and are prioritizing health, safety, and core community services during this time. The City appreciates the public’s patience and understanding as we work to maintain service continuity.
