Monday night, over 55,000 employees in Los Angeles County went on strike, causing disruptions to public services ranging from social services and healthcare to parks and libraries.
Los Angeles
According to SEIU Local 721 leaders, the two-day strike began at 7 p.m. Monday because the county had not fairly negotiated a new contract.
Los Angeles
They obviously believed they were above the law. In a statement, union leader David Green said, “They believed we would never go on strike.” “They had a mistaken idea.”
Los Angeles
Promotion
This is the first time that all of its members have quit their jobs, according to the union.
The strike will affect almost every county department and is scheduled to end at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Hospitals will stay open, but libraries and a few medical clinics will close. Cleaning up beach debris from wildfires may be put on hold. The Hall of Administration might close its public service desks.
Los Angeles
According to union organizers, a series of 44 alleged labor code infractions by the county, including retribution and contracting out work that should have been performed by union members, served as the catalyst for the strike. At the end of March, the union’s contract came to an end.
Los Angeles
Outrage over what it called an insultingly low pay offer has also been voiced by the union. Due to the costs of wildfires, a large sex abuse settlement, and the loss of federal subsidies, the county first claimed it couldn’t afford hikes this year. Fesia Davenport, the chief executive of Los Angeles County, stated that the county might have had to pay billions of dollars to implement the union’s initial wage recommendations.
Los Angeles
According to Davenport, county officials have “moved off” a zero raise offer in recent weeks, but they are still hesitant to make any offers.
In a Monday interview, Davenport stated, “We don’t want to negotiate ourselves into a structural deficit.” “We wish to maintain the line.”
If not, she warned, the county may eventually have to eliminate jobs, as suggested by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. To help cover a deficit of around $1 billion, which was partly caused by staff raises the city agreed to last year, Bass announced a budget proposal last week that included 1,650 layoffs.
Additionally, Davenport made it clear that she wished to preserve the county’s credit standing. Despite the impending $4 billion sex abuse payout, the county has maintained its AAA grade from S&P Global Ratings because of its reserves, “manageable debt burden,” and substantial revenue base, the credit rating firm said in a press release. Meanwhile, the city of Los Angeles’ rating was recently cut by S&P because of its “emerging structural imbalance and weakening financial position.”
Other unions have started publicly criticizing the L.A. County Board of Supervisors for offers made at the negotiating table, which coincides with the walkout. Last week, a group of unions that represent county first responders publicly called for a salary increase, claiming that the bargaining table had not adequately compensated their members for the work they did during the historic January wildfires.
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