Kern County workers have reached a two-year tentative agreement with county leaders, stopping a two-day strike that was planned for June 3 and 4.

The county workers, who are part of the SEIU Local 521 union, have been pushing for better working conditions. After a year of negotiations talks with county officials, they were able to come to an agreement, the union and the county announced. 

County officials said the agreement includes; a 6% salary increase for all employees, a one-time $1,500 cash payment for current SEIU bargaining unit members, and over $3 million in equity adjustments spread across 28 job classifications. The deal also boosts bilingual pay, increases uniform and tool allowances, and adds a new personal holiday for workers.

The Kern County Board of Supervisors is expected to give final approval of the agreement at their June 17 meeting. 

“The County appreciates the hard work and perseverance of our SEIU-represented employees throughout this process. Their contributions are vital to the well-being of our residents throughout Kern County,” Kern County officials said in a statement. 

SEIU Local 521 represents more than 5,200 workers across Kern County.

Here is the full statement from Alicia Aleman,a Kern County social worker and SEIU Local 521 Chapter President:

“Our continuous actions, the increasing public support of our cause to Fix Kern, and the determination of thousands of us to be strike-ready—Kern County workers—pushed the County’s management team back to the table with new urgency.

Through our collective strength and sacrifice, and following round-the-clock mediation, we have reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) that we strongly believe sets a framework to begin addressing chronic short staffing, recruitment, and retention, and workplace safety.

This agreement wasn’t handed to us—it was won through our unity, organizing, and the power workers showed by standing ready to change the status quo for the services our community deserves.”