Full Breakdown
Orange County Teamsters Strike Disrupts Public Services
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Walkout Begins Across County Agencies
On October 13, 2026, more than 465 members of Teamsters Local 952 walked off the job at 4 a.m., forming picket lines outside the County Administration North building in Santa Ana and at the three county landfills. Union representatives reported roughly 20 workers at each administrative post and about 30 picketers at the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill entrance, causing traffic congestion as semi-trucks queued for waste loads. The strike affects employees in Orange County Public Works, Orange County Waste & Recycling, and Orange County Community Resources, including heavy-equipment operators, mechanics, waste workers, custodial staff and animal-care workers.
Background & Context
The three-year contract expired on June 25. Union members rejected the county’s one-year offer of a 3 % raise with no retroactive pay, saying it failed to recognize their work. Negotiations began in December, but the county did not make “meaningful movement” until August. The dispute follows a recent county decision to increase supervisors’ salaries by 25 %, which the union says highlights wage disparities.
Data & Statistics
- Workers on strike: > 465
- Residents potentially affected: ~ 3 million
- Picketers at Bowerman Landfill: ~ 30, with nearly two dozen semi-trucks delayed
- Contract offer rejected: 3 % raise, no retroactive pay
Official Statements & Responses
He urged the union to consider the terms accepted by other bargaining units.
Criticism & Opposition
Animal-care attendant Betty Lopez, with 18 years at the county shelter, described the strain of understaffing: “When those workers leave, there aren’t any fewer cats and dogs that need our care.”
The union also alleged that the county filed an unfair-labor-practice charge, accusing officials of bad-faith bargaining and of refusing retroactive pay, which the union says will cost workers wages they cannot recover.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Service impact: The union warns that road maintenance, flood-channel work, landfill operations, park upkeep, and vehicle repairs could be delayed, while supervisors assert disruptions will be “minimal to non-existent.”
- Wage offer: Union members rejected a 3 % raise; supervisors claim the same raise is standard for other units and that higher raises would strain the budget.
- Supervisors’ raises: The union points to a 25 % salary increase for supervisors, a claim not addressed in the county’s official statements.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have done everything in our power to reach a fair agreement,” — Eric Jimenez, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 952
- “When those workers leave, there aren’t any fewer cats and dogs that need our care,” — Betty Lopez
- “The problem quite frankly is that a more than 3% raise ripples across the entire county workforce and county budget, and the financial circumstances makes that difficult to swallow,” — District Supervisor Don Wagner
- “The county has forced our members to walk off the job to fight for the respect and fair contract they deserve,” — Eric Jimenez
- “The ball's in their court. We're ready to make a deal when they are,” — Christian Castro, teamster's spokesperson
What’s Next
The Orange County Board of Supervisors is meeting in a closed session on Tuesday, after which the county says it will present a new proposal to the union. County officials maintain that contingency plans will keep essential services running while negotiations continue.