Orange County Workers Strike for Fair Wages Amidst Cost of Living Crisis

Orange County workers, represented by Teamsters Local 952, initiated a strike on Tuesday due to an ongoing labor dispute concerning wages. The union is advocating for higher pay to address the escalating cost of living.

Nearly 500 public employees across various county departments, including Public Works and Waste & Recycling, are participating in the strike. Union representative Sam Carlin stated that negotiations with the county have been challenging, citing a lack of good-faith bargaining and delayed proposals from the county's side. Discussions began in December 2025, with the county reportedly making no meaningful progress until August 2026.

The core issue is fair compensation. Workers are demanding more than the 3% raise offered, contrasting it with the 25% salary increase county supervisors granted themselves last year. The union expressed that striking was a last resort, highlighting the essential role their members play in county operations.

This strike is anticipated to cause disruptions to services such as road and flood channel maintenance, landfill operations, park upkeep, and vehicle repairs for county and first responder vehicles. A County Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.