There are more than 300 striking Santa Clara County court employees headed to mediation that would end their current strike over employment issues. Recently, the Superior Court Professional Employees Association, the union responsible for the strike, gave the go-ahead on mediation. They remained on the picket line though following the approval of mediation.

Prior to agreeing to mediation, the court was unwilling to reopen negotiations concerning wages. The union was seeking a three percent raise. According to a source, the court is now willing to reopen negotiations through mediation and welcomed the union’s willingness to once again negotiate the issue.

The current strike disrupted 11 courthouses in the area, including traffic court and the Hall of Justice in San Jose. No services are currently available to the public. The civil clerk’s office and the family clerk’s office have also both been shut down. There are also some criminal defendants in jail custody that have not been transported to their court appearances. One area landlord said she’s been unable to evict tenant’s against whom she won a default judgement since the strike began. She hopes for a swift resolution to the problem, but said she sympathizes with the striking workers and hopes they get an equitable settlement.

Last year, the union for the workers on strike turned down a net 4.5 percent wage increase that would take place over the course of two years. This summer, the court offered an additional half percent, ultimately offering a five percent raise for 88% of the workers who had been with the court for six or more years. The court also said it would give workers an extra six percent, which they would pay into the state retirement system.