The City remains committed and available to reach fair and sustainable labor agreements with all employee groups.

San Bruno, CA — March 3, 2026 — At a Special City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the City’s negotiators received authorization to declare impasse in its negotiations with the San Bruno Police Bargaining Unit. This action was taken because, despite the parties reaching a tentative agreement, the police union membership voted to reject the agreement.

The City of San Bruno employs nearly 290 full-time equivalent staff who serve a community of approximately 45,000 residents across 5.5 square miles. These employees, represented in five bargaining units by Teamsters Local 856 IBT and Teamsters Local 350 IBT, provide critical public safety and community services, many of which operate around the clock.

All five labor contracts expired on December 31, 2025. Since August 2025, the City and its labor partners have engaged in good-faith negotiations consistent with State law. To date, agreements have been reached and ratified with three of the five units—covering roughly 75% of the City’s workforce. These agreements include the fire unit and the City’s civilian bargaining units.

Following more than six months of bargaining, the City and Teamsters Local 856 IBT (Police Unit) jointly agreed to participate in voluntary mediation in January 2026 with a neutral state mediator from the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). Through the mediation process, the tentative agreement provided total compensation increases between approximately 19% and 22% over a three-year period for Police Unit classifications.

Despite additional mediation efforts in February, the parties were unable to reach a final resolution.

On March 6, 2026, after more than six months of good-faith negotiations and the Police Unit’s rejection of the tentative agreement, the City formally declared an impasse. Under state public sector bargaining law, an impasse is a formal recognition that negotiations have reached a deadlock and that additional bargaining sessions are unlikely to produce an agreement at this time. The declaration of impasse allows the Union to request further review by an independent third-party fact-finding panel.

“Although the parties have not yet reached agreement, the City appreciates the continued professionalism and service of all its employees,” said City Manager Alex D. McIntyre. “We remain committed to a respectful and transparent bargaining process that balances the interests of employees, residents, and the long-term health of the organization. We continue to be available, and it is our hope that the City and Union can reach an agreement soon.”