# Marin County Remains at Odds with Biggest Union Over Contract
Labor tensions are still simmering in Marin County. Negotiations between county officials and its largest employee union have hit a wall.
Discover hand-picked hotels and vacation homes tailored for every traveler. Skip booking fees and secure your dream stay today with real-time availability!
Browse Accommodations Now
County administrators and union reps just can’t seem to agree on key contract issues. This affects thousands of workers in San Rafael, Mill Valley, Novato, and other Marin communities—even though there’s a newly approved $865.8 million budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Budget Realities Complicate Labor Negotiations
The county’s budget just got a boost, with a 7% jump in revenues and a 6.2% rise in spending compared to last year. But even these healthy numbers haven’t helped end the labor dispute that’s touching services all over Marin.
Financial Constraints and Union Demands
County administrators in San Rafael say they’re worried about economic uncertainties, despite the bigger budget. “While our budget shows growth, we must balance immediate needs with long-term fiscal responsibility,” a county spokesperson said at the Civic Center.
The budget sets aside $10.4 million in one-time spending recommendations and $26 million in general fund reserves. That’s both an opportunity and a warning, depending on who you ask.
Union reps from Tiburon to West Marin say the county’s strong finances should mean better pay and benefits for workers. These employees kept essential services going through some tough years.
“Our members kept Marin running during difficult times,” a union spokesperson said at a rally in Corte Madera. “The budget numbers demonstrate the county’s capacity to offer fair compensation.”
New Management Structure Faces First Major Test
This dispute is the first big challenge for Marin County’s new executive governance model. The county made the switch in 2023, trading its old administrator structure for a county executive approach and promising more efficiency.
Governance Evolution Under Pressure
Supervisors hoped the executive model would streamline decisions and improve service delivery, from Sausalito to Fairfax. They talked up the restructuring as a way to handle the tough stuff Marin faces these days.
“The executive model was implemented to help navigate exactly these types of complex situations,” said a longtime county politics observer from Larkspur. “How this dispute resolves will be telling about the effectiveness of the new governance approach.”
Community Impact and Service Concerns
As talks drag on, folks from Belvedere to Novato are getting worried about what it means for county services. The union covers workers in a bunch of departments that keep Marin’s communities running.
In Kentfield and Greenbrae, some residents fear disruptions to social services. Over in San Anselmo and Ross, community leaders are pushing both sides to work it out.
“We need stability in our county workforce to maintain the quality of life Marin residents expect,” a community advocate from Stinson Beach said at a recent town hall.
Path Forward Remains Uncertain
Both sides seem dug in, and honestly, it’s hard to say what happens next. Mediation is still happening, though.
Representatives from the county and the union both say they’re committed to finding an agreement that works for Marin communities, from Bolinas all the way to Strawberry. But it’s anyone’s guess how long that’ll take.
Residents in Marin should probably keep an eye on updates, just in case local services get affected. This whole dispute could end up shaping how the county handles labor and services for a long time.
Here is the source article for this story: Marin County remains at odds with biggest union over contract
Find available hotels and vacation homes instantly. No fees, best rates guaranteed!
Check Availability Now
Cities and Towns in Marin County
Things to Do in Marin County
Places to Stay in Marin County
