We Have a Tentative Agreement!
We are pleased to share the significant wins we have secured in our recent contract negotiations. Through our collective efforts, we successfully pushed back against proposed takeaways and secured meaningful improvements to our working conditions and compensation.
Key Tentative Agreement Highlights
- Workplace Flexibility & Protections: We preserved our ability to exchange shifts without limits and maintained our current vacation bidding process. Additionally, we secured new protections for employees who resign on good terms, ensuring they can reapply for other City positions after just six months.
- Compensatory Time & Sick Leave: Comp-time requests can now only be denied due to extenuating circumstances. For sick leave, you now have the flexibility to report absences of more than one shift via email or phone.
- Safety & Equipment: Your annual safety shoe allowance has increased to $200, with new language allowing for replacement if shoes become damaged, regardless of whether the annual allowance has been exhausted. We also doubled the tool allowance to $1,200 per year.
- Union Representation: We successfully protected the City’s 50-hour contribution to the Union’s time pool, ensuring we have the resources needed for representation and advocacy.
- Wages: We negotiated a 5%, 3%, 3% across-the-board wage increase over the three-year contract, along with an increase in daily stand-by pay to $30.
- Contractual Integrity: We corrected language that previously allowed for discipline in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and ensured that annual salary plans are subject to bargaining before implementation.
Upcoming Ratification Vote (Oct 8–9th)
These gains reflect our strength at the bargaining table. The next step is for the bargaining unit to review and vote on this agreement.
Please ensure you check the schedule below for all upcoming voting locations, dates, and times to cast your vote. Your participation is essential to finalizing this contract.
| Thursday, October 8, 2026 |
| Department | Location | Staff/Leader | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanitation Dept. | Main Building | Sonja Binns / Sheila Gaines | 5:00am – 6:00am |
| Parks and Recreation | Conference Room | Sonja Binns / Anthony Neloms | 6:30am – 7:30am |
| Fleet / Fire Fleet | TBD | Royce Veras / Sheila Gaines | 12:00pm – 1:30pm |
| Water Distribution | Conference Room, Building 9 | Jhi Arnold / Sheila Gaines | 2:00pm – 3:30pm |
| Wastewater Reclamation Facility | Board Mtg Room | Irwin Cineus / Anthony Neloms | 3:00pm – 4:30pm |
| Police Department | Fire Station 5 | Latoya Lawson | 4:00pm – 6:00pm |
| Friday, October 9, 2026 |
| Department | Location | Staff/Leader | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code Enforcement | TBD | Irwin Cineus / Royce Veras | 11:00am – 1:00pm |
| Water Plant | 2nd Floor Conf. Room | Sheila Gaines / Jhi Arnold | 12:00pm – 3:00pm |
When we fight together, we win together.
In Solidarity,
SEIU Florida Public Services Union
Stewards
- Cathy Widdoes, Emergency Comm Spec III
- Allen Sutton, Parking Dept.
- Dan Kempa, Water Dept.
- Patrick Tranchese, Streets
- Stew/Advisory Council: Bonnie Kamp, Water Treatment Plant
- Stew/Advisory Council: Alden Wilder, Drainages
- Worksite Leader: Amy Blackman, Parks and Recreation
- Keith Jones Sanitation o Fernando Loza
Contracts & Agreements
2026 SEIU.FPSU West Palm TA CBA
Union Hall
560 Village Blvd., #120
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Phone 561.965.0077
