A strike of some 500 Santa Cruz, CA city employees was sidestepped for the time being Thursday, when reps from SEIU Local 415 and city officials came to terms on a tentative agreement in their contract dispute. The breakthrough came, when The City was able to secure a one time state grant to cover the workers pay raise for one year. According to Mayor Mike Rotkin, "That means that they will get some pay increases this year, but then next year, bets'll be off and we'll be back to bargaining again with a difficult situation."

Meanwhile, both the Mayor, and Local 415 reps are hopeful that the deal being offered is accepted by the workers. Leslie Scanagatta, Local 415 bargaining rep says, "There's a general membership meeting that members only, they attend, and they will be voting throughout the week until Wednesday evening when we'll count the ballots and we'll know then, whether they accept it or reject it."