A massive crowd of Kern County workers, represented by SEIU Local 521, marched in front of the Kern County Administrative Office Building as part of a 24-hour Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Strike on March 5.
The Kern County Workers’ 24-hour strike is the first in county history, with workers protesting unfair labor practices and lack of funding for essential services.
“A lot of us have gone back to school to get degrees, hoping to move up, because the wages just aren’t enough to pay our bills. Some of my coworkers are donating plasma just to make ends meet,” said Patricia Gomez, SEIU member and an Administrative Coordinator for County of Kern Community Development.
Gomez has been with the county for nine years and said this strike is not just about county workers but about the whole community.
“We want to help our community, but we need help too. If our mental health suffers, we can’t serve the public the way they deserve,” Gomez said.
Rico Mendez, Chief Elected Officer of SEIU 521, who represents 70,000 workers across 17 counties said Kern County workers earn 25-30% less than comparable counties in California for the same jobs.
“That’s not just unfair, it’s driving our staffing crisis and hurting the very communities we serve. If Kern wants to recruit and retain the best, they need to pay what’s fair,” Mendez said.
He also said that Kern County residents have a life expectancy five years lower than the California state average. Which is a direct result of underfunded public services.
Doris Ortiz and Bianca Garcia are animal care workers for Kern County Animal Services and both said this isn’t just about their paychecks, but also about how it affects their personal lives from stress and burnout to struggling to make ends meet.
“It takes a mental toll. We see animals come in sick, neglected, or abandoned, and we can’t always give them the care they deserve because we just don’t have the resources,” Ortiz said.
They also shared about how Kern County Animal Services relies heavily on public donations for basic supplies food, bedding, enrichment items, and medical care.
“The public already does so much for us. They volunteer, they foster but they’re also buying the supplies. I wish we could do more to support them,” Garcia said.
Despite challenges, Ortiz and Garcia find their work rewarding, especially when animals are adopted into loving homes.
“The union here is addressing things beyond just the library,” said Kern County Library worker Michael O’Neill. “Our cause could be helped by relieving the understaffing that we’re currently suffering from, particularly in departments like Behavioral Health Recovery Services.”
After the strike, Mendez said the union will continue negotiating with Kern County officials to secure better wages, working conditions, and benefits for the employees.
PHOTO GALLERY: Kern County workers, represented by SEIU Local 521, marching in front of the Kern County Administrative Office Building as part of a 24-hour Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Strike on March 5.
