FLASH REPORT #2: 2026 City of San José Labor Negotiations

CONTACT:
Demetria Machado, Deputy Public Information Officer, City of San José
Media Line: 408-535-7777

Date of Update: August 19, 2026

The City will provide updates on the status of labor negotiations as needed through Flash Reports.

Labor Negotiations informational webpage: www.sanjoseca.gov/laborinfo.

Additional information on labor negotiations and the City's budget status can be found in Flash Report #1.

CURRENT UPDATE

None of the City's workforce is currently on strike. The City is now engaged with MEF and IFPTE in the factfinding process, which provides a forum - overseen by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) - where the parties can continue working toward an agreement.

The City has learned from social media that MEF and IFPTE bargaining units have received a majority positive vote to move forward with a strike if they choose to do so; however, MEF and IFPTE have each provided their assurances that there will be no strike activity until factfinding has concluded.

WHAT IS FACTFINDING?

• Factfinding is a mandatory impasse process for negotiations instituted in 2011 as Assembly Bill (AB) 646.
• It provides that if an employer and bargaining unit are unable to reach agreement over a matter within the scope of bargaining, the bargaining unit can request that the parties' differences be submitted to a factfinding panel. The costs are shared equally by the parties.
• The panel consists of a union member, a management member, and a neutral chairperson.
• If agreement is not reached by the parties during the factfinding process, the factfinding panel will issue a recommended resolution. The recommendation is not final or binding.
• The parties can agree to adopt the recommendation, do nothing with the recommendation, or an employer may impose its Last, Best, and Final Offer after a public hearing.