More than 465 union workers walked off the job and onto picket lines Tuesday morning after failing to reach a contract agreement with Orange County. Members of Teamsters Local 952 began picketing at 6 a.m., with the strike officially commencing at 4 a.m. A news conference by union officials was planned for 11 a.m. outside the County Administration Building in Santa Ana, coinciding with an Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Union officials warned that the strike could disrupt essential government services for residents, potentially causing delays to critical operations such as road and flood channel maintenance, landfill operations, parks and beach upkeep, and repairs to county and first responder vehicles. The affected workers are employed across Orange County Public Works, Orange County Waste & Recycling, Orange County Community Resources, and other county operations. According to the union, the planned strike could affect services utilized by more than 3 million Orange County residents.
In anticipation of the strike, Orange County officials stated Thursday that contingency plans were in place to maintain essential services. The county released a statement affirming its respect for employees' rights to engage in lawful strike activity under California law. The statement added, “Our priority remains ensuring the continuity of essential public services for our residents. We have contingency plans in place to minimize service disruptions.” Teamster’s spokesperson Christian Castro indicated that the Orange County Board of Supervisors informed the union they would have a proposal after a closed session on Tuesday.
Union officials expressed frustration on Monday regarding the pace of contract negotiations, accusing the county of failing to reach a fair agreement. Eric Jimenez, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 952, stated that the county has shown a "complete disregard for the workers who keep Orange County running." He added that the county forced members to strike to secure a fair contract and respect, emphasizing the union's commitment not to allow an erosion of public services.
According to the union, they called on the county to begin bargaining as early as December 2025, more than six months before the previous agreement expired. The union began submitting proposals in March, but alleges that the county did not make meaningful movement toward an agreement until August. The union also stated it has filed an unfair labor practice charge, alleging bad-faith bargaining by the county. Furthermore, the union noted that months of delays have led to lost wages for workers, as the county has reportedly refused to provide retroactive pay as part of a new agreement.
The union also highlighted that this contract dispute follows a decision by the Orange County Board of Supervisors months prior to increase supervisors’ salaries by 25%. This increase amounts to approximately $49,000 per supervisor annually, bringing their annual salaries to more than $244,000. The county’s earlier statement did not address the union’s specific allegations regarding the pace of negotiations or retroactive pay.
