Not long after showing up to his cubicle for an 8 a.m. shift on Sept. 15, engineering technician Cole Phillips hit the pavement with around 30 other unionized Solvang employees to participate in the first labor strike of its kind in city history. Before heading out that morning to protest the City Council’s recent handling […]
dispute
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Board of Supervisors sides with arbitrator in Del Cielo rent dispute
While alleging that a third-party mediator abused his authority, a local mobile home park owner appealed to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to overturn the ruling in an arbitration case. Following an eight-hour, in-person hearing in early 2026 and opportunities for written rebuttal, arbitrator John Derrick deemed $24 as an appropriate rent increase […]
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St. Joseph High School puts principal on leave
A few weeks shy of St. Joseph High School’s summer break, the proverbial bell rang early for Principal Erinn Dougherty. In mid-May, the private school’s superintendent announced that Dougherty “has been placed on administrative leave pending a review of reported verbal comments made in a meeting of students.” “Please know that the well-being and care […]
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Strawberry grower pays $66,000 to resolve labor dispute
A saga brewing since 2022 for two local ag workers led to a recent $66,000-plus settlement from their employer. In early April, the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) announced that a complaint filed against Red Blossom Farms in Santa Maria was resolved when the strawberry grower agreed to compensate two individuals for $66,925 in […]
