Palm Springs City Workers Unionize, Joining Regional Labor Wave

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – March 13, 2026 – In a significant shift for public sector labor relations in the Coachella Valley, more than 250 City of Palm Springs employees have voted to join Teamsters Local 1932. The move marks a pivotal moment for workers who provide essential city services, as they seek stronger representation and a more powerful voice in negotiations with the city.

The newly organized group, which includes staff crucial to keeping Palm Springs running for its residents and a thriving tourism industry, will now be represented by one of the Inland Empire's most formidable labor unions. This vote is not an isolated event but the latest victory in a string of successful organizing campaigns by Local 1932 across the region, suggesting a rising tide of unionization among public employees.

"Palm Springs workers made it clear that they want a real voice on the job," said Randy Korgan, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1932, in a statement. "We are proud to welcome these hardworking public workers into the Teamsters family and look forward to working alongside them to secure a strong contract that reflects the important work they do every day."

A Growing Force in the Desert

The decision by Palm Springs workers comes as Teamsters Local 1932 solidifies its reputation as a dominant force in public sector organizing throughout the Inland Empire. The union, which represents over 16,000 workers, has successfully brought thousands of municipal and agency employees into its fold in recent years.

This organizing wave has swept through the Coachella Valley with notable momentum. Recently, workers at the Desert Water Agency were certified to join the union, while 433 employees at the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) not only joined Local 1932 but have already ratified their first contract, securing higher wages and improved job protections. Just last year, employees at the Indio Water Authority also voted overwhelmingly to become Teamsters.

Beyond the valley, the union's influence is even more pronounced. In 2024, Local 1932 became the sole bargaining representative for all full-time workers in the City of San Bernardino. It also represents approximately 11,000 San Bernardino County employees and has secured significant gains for them, including the early implementation of a $25 minimum wage for over 1,000 healthcare workers. This pattern of strategic growth underscores the union's focus on consolidating power for public sector workers across Southern California's inland counties.

A New Chapter in Palm Springs Labor Relations

For Palm Springs, this vote opens a new chapter in what has been a complex history of labor relations. The city's municipal employees were previously represented by the Public Employees Association of Palm Springs (PEAPS), an entity that itself had decertified the larger Service Employees International Union (SEIU). However, PEAPS recently faced legal scrutiny over its dues collection practices, creating an environment of uncertainty for workers seeking stable and effective representation.

This history, which includes city ordinances dating back to the 1960s aimed at regulating labor picketing, highlights a long-standing tension between municipal management and organized labor. More recently, the city has shown a willingness to engage with unions, as evidenced by the 2025 approval of a labor harmony agreement for the Palm Springs Convention Center, which involved several trade unions, including a different Teamsters local.

This vote to join Local 1932 represents a decisive step by city workers to align themselves with a larger, more powerful organization, signaling a desire to move past previous representational challenges and engage with the city from a new position of strength.

The Road Ahead: Negotiations, Budgets, and City Services

With the vote certified, the focus now shifts to the bargaining table. The upcoming negotiations between Teamsters Local 1932 and the City of Palm Springs will be the first major test of this new relationship. The union's stated goal is to secure a strong contract covering wages, benefits, and working conditions, which will likely have significant financial implications for the city.

Municipal finance experts note that new collective bargaining agreements often lead to increased labor costs, which can place pressure on city budgets. The city will need to balance the union's demands with its own fiscal realities, potentially leading to reallocations of funds or new strategies for managing personnel costs. As of now, officials from the City of Palm Springs have not issued a public statement regarding the unionization vote or its potential impact on the city's finances and operations.

For the workers, joining the Teamsters is about more than just compensation. As new member Kathy Simonette explained, the decision was driven by a collective desire for empowerment and respect.

"We care deeply about the work we do for the residents of Palm Springs," Simonette said. "We chose Teamsters because we want a stronger voice on the job and a union that will stand with us as we work to improve our workplaces and the services we provide to our community."

As Palm Springs and its newly unionized workforce prepare for this new era of negotiation, other municipalities across the Inland Empire will be watching closely. The outcome of this process could serve as a benchmark for public sector labor relations, potentially influencing worker movements and city governance throughout the region for years to come.