GGEL’s Fight and What It Means for GGCEA — Rally August 12
Dear GGCEA Member,
As you may know, our union siblings in the Garden Grove Employees League (GGEL) — who bargained alongside us in coordination — have declared impasse with the City of Garden Grove and are now preparing for mediation.
GGCEA members rejected the City’s Last, Best, and Final Offer (LBFO) but ultimately voted to ratify a subsequently negotiated tentative agreement. GGEL members, facing different job duties and workplace conditions, made a different decision: they rejected both offers and proceeded to the formal impasse process.
Both bargaining units made thoughtful, member-driven decisions.
As discussed at our last membership meeting, the decision to enter impasse comes with real risk. Mediation can lead to an improved outcome — but it can also lead to no movement, or even a worse result. There are no guarantees.
That said, GGEL members are stepping up and doing the work. They’ve accepted the uncertainty in hopes of pushing the City to do better — not just for themselves, but for all Garden Grove employees in the long run.
Just as OCEA supported GGCEA through every step of bargaining, we’re standing with GGEL now. This isn’t about which group made the “better” decision. It’s about understanding that each group made the best call they could based on their unique circumstances. And while GGEL’s path may lead to change, it could just as easily confirm the strength of the agreement GGCEA secured.
We’re encouraging GGCEA members to attend the upcoming rally — not to question your vote, but to show solidarity and respect for your colleagues who are taking a difficult and uncertain stand.
GGEL Rally & Press Event
Garden Grove Community Center
13000 Stanford Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840
Tuesday, August 12
Begins at 4:15 PM
RSVP to CRosales@ocea.org
This is an opportunity to stay informed, support one another, and remain united. GGEL’s actions may help shape the City's approach moving forward — and GGCEA will be well-positioned to build on that progress next cycle.
Publication Date: August 6, 2025