Monday, July 7, 2025
The Long Beach City Council unanimously voted to approve a new collective bargaining agreement extension between the city and the Civil Service Employees Association at its June 3 meeting.
The previous agreement extension, which was made in 2017, expires on June 30.
The approval extends the agreement by eight years, to 2033, and comes with annual salary increases for employees. The CSEA encompasses a wide range of 215 public employees in the state, including education, sanitation, and more.
“We are proud of the outstanding team of people, our CSEA, who are dedicated to serving our residents every day,” Council President Brendan Finn said. “Then, do it all with the kind of teamwork and true commitment that always goes above and beyond, and the same held true with these negotiations over the past months. Our workforce takes immense pride in making Long Beach a wonderful place to live, and we are grateful to them for everything they do for our city.”
The agreement states that employees will receive salary increases of 2 percent through 2027, 2.75 percent for 2028, and 3 percent from 2029 through 2032. The city and the CSEA had been discussing and working on the extension for several months, with the agreement officially being signed on May 7.
CSEA President John Mooney and other union workers were welcomed with a loud round of applause when they went up to the lectern. Mooney said when union meetings are held, members do a “Union Strong” chant. Up at the lectern, to show unity with the new agreement, they led a “Long Beach Strong” chant, with community members in the audience.
“It was a long nine months,” Mooney said of the negotiations. “It was a fair contract, it was fair negotiations. I also want to give a shout-out to my executive board and my shop stewards who worked tirelessly to help. We’re always here for the union and the city.”
The community continued to show appreciation for all the union workers, showering them with more applause as they all stood up in unison to be recognized.
“We just want to say ‘thank you’ to you,” Mooney said to all the CSEA employees in attendance. “This contract is for you and your hard work. Thank you.”
Council members spoke about the importance of the CSEA, its workers, and the new agreement. Councilman John Bendo said he was glad the city could give the union a long-term contract so they don’t have to “keep doing this every couple of years,” and said he felt it was a good balance between them and the taxpayers.
The discussions between both sides went on for about nine months.
Councilman Roy Lester echoed Bendo’s remarks, saying he’s marveled that both sides are walking away happy and satisfied. Councilman Mike Reinhart continued the sentiments, commending City Manager Dan Creighton, Deputy City Manager Phil Ragona, Comptroller Inna Reznik and Mooney for finalizing the deal.
“It was a long negotiation,” Reinhart said, “and last year, we talked about the culture, establishing the culture and bringing that culture back to Long Beach. I feel like it was missing a little bit, but I think with this contract, it feels like we’re all rowing in the same direction again. It’s fair to the taxpayers, it’s fair to the lifeblood — the workers — of this community.”
The city also announced new license agreements with L.I. Greenmarkets, Inc., to continue hosting farmers’ markets, and with Arts in the Plaza to continue holding events, in Kennedy Plaza.
The agreement for the farmers’ markets states that for each Wednesday and Saturday they are held during the 2025 calendar year, it will cost L.I. Greenmarkets, Inc. $125 per day. For the 2026 calendar year, it will cost $175, and for 2027, it will cost $200, paid to the city.
With Arts in the Plaza, the new agreement states it will cost the group $100 each day for 2025, $125 for 2026 and $150 for 2027.
“We are thrilled to continue celebrating the arts and uniting community,” Sammi Metzger, director of Arts in the Plaza, said.
