A coalition of unions representing some 5,800 workers in Contra Costa County, CA, staged a one-day strike on Tuesday that severely impacted medical centers, social services, and administrative functions. The unions, representing such diverse workers as nursing assistants, social workers, and librarians, have been battling the county administration for nearly a year over cost-of-living raises; Tuesday's strike was called in the wake of a breakdown in negotiations.
See "Nearly 6,000 Contra Costa workers walk out in one-day strike", San Francisco Chronicle, June 27, 2006