City of Fresno white collar workers launch two-day strike

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - City of Fresno white-collar employees went connected onslaught astatine 4 a.m. Tuesday, demanding higher wages and a amended work-life balance.

This is the archetypal clip the Fresno Professional Employees national has gone connected strike.

“This enactment has existed since the 90s, and we’ve ne'er had to travel this far,” Union President Jesse Gonzalez said.

City leaders say they are disappointed to spot the workers' prime to initiate a two-day strike.

“It's unfortunate that it's travel to this point. I'm ace arrogant of the remainder of our workforce for stepping up,” City Manager Georgeanne White said.

The onslaught includes the supervisors for astir metropolis agencies, arsenic good arsenic immoderate sympathy strikers who enactment nether them.

However, supervisors successful the Fresno Police Department, 911 dispatch and the Fresno Yosemite International Airport are not allowed to strike.

Gonzalez says the members asked the metropolis for a 3% wage summation and a guaranteed time each week erstwhile they are not connected call.

The metropolis offered a 2% wage increase, on with a one-time 1% outgo and an summation successful their information cogwheel allowance.

“I bash deliberation that these members person been treated reasonably from a fiscal perspective,” White said.

Gonzales says the city’s rise connection does not support up with inflation, though.

“We're conscionable looking for a livable wage that my members tin person and proceed to determination guardant with,” Gonzalez said.

He says the union’s negotiators successful Sacramento reached retired to the metropolis connected Monday to proceed negotiations, but they did not perceive back.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer says helium is inactive awaiting a telephone from the union.

"My telephone is connected 24 hours a day. Jesse knows however to get a clasp of me… I’ll marque myself disposable tonight, arsenic good arsenic my team,” Dyer said.

Both sides accidental they privation the onslaught to end.

Gonzalez says he's hopeful for a favorable result for the national members.

“Maybe it’s a Christmas occurrence wish, I don’t know,” helium said.

However, portion helium says it volition instrumentality a Christmas occurrence to travel to an agreement, Dyer says it volition simply instrumentality a conversation.

“In the meantime, we’ll person contingency plans acceptable to spell for if they onslaught tomorrow,” Dyer said.