City Employees to Receive Pay Raise Under Tentative Deal

All city of Imperial Beach employees represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 221 will receive a six percent pay raise over the next two years if a tentative contract is approved by union employees in a vote to take place Friday, the union said.

City employees have not received a raise in more than five years, according to Mayor Jim Janney, who called for pay raises in January before contract negotiations started in March.

A tentative deal for a two-year contract was reached Tuesday, according to information published on the union's website Thursday. Visit the SEIU website for more details. 

"Most importantly, the city of Imperial Beach management and City Council know who we are and that we will no longer be silent and invisible. Our members stepped up by attending Council meetings," the SEIU stated on its website. "We can’t stop now. We must continue forward to make sure that SEIU Local 221/IB Chapter is a strong, effective union that stands up for workers and the community we serve."

SEIU Local 221 represents municipal employees across San Diego County as well as other organized professions in the area. After more than 11 years in IB, David Garcias left his job as Code Compliance Officer for the city of Imperial Beach to become President of the local SEIU chapter in July 2012.