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San Mateo County superior court workers announce strike over labor practices

San Mateo, California, United States · Nov 16, 2026

Is it still on?

SOONAnnounced for Nov 16. Not started yet.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
San Mateo County superior court workers cite unfair labor practices and bad-faith bargaining.
What they want
Better staffing, retention, proper job classifications, and resolution to case backlogs.
What changed
Nov 14: Union and court officials prepared for a scheduled strike on Monday following stalled contract negotiations.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Address workers' concerns
  • Improve staffing and retention
  • Respect job classifications
  • Strengthen court services for the community

Organised by: SEIU Local 521

What authorities say

Court officials stated that all court locations will remain open and essential services will continue, while recommending the public check their website for updates. Management reported offering a 3% wage increase and a one-time payment, noting financial constraints.12

The full story

San Mateo County Superior Court employees represented by Service Employees International Union Local 521 have scheduled a strike for Monday. The union accuses court management of engaging in unfair labor practices, bargaining in bad faith, high staff turnover, and assigning workers tasks outside their responsibilities without proper training. The strike announcement follows months of negotiations that began in September. Court officials stated that all court locations will remain open during the action, although some proceedings may experience delays while essential services continue. Management noted that the court faces financial constraints, operating below its estimated need of 67.3 million dollars while offering wage increases and previous equity adjustments.

Timeline

  1. SEIU Local 521 members announced plans to strike on Monday following stalled contract negotiations.12

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