Thousands of L.A. County workers prepare to strike, but the county claims it's unable to offer pay raises due to budget constraints.
Fiery Clash Ahead: SEIU Local 721 Prepares to Walk Off the Job
Tension is running high in Los Angeles County as more than 55,000 unionized workers, including public works employees, library workers, and mental health professionals, are gearing up to stage a two-day strike starting Monday evening. This historic walkout marks the first-ever systemwide walkout by SEIU Local 721, affecting nearly all county departments.
The union members accuse the county of engaging in unfair labor practices, such as retaliation, outsourcing union jobs, and failing to bargain in good faith during contract negotiations. The union has also rejected a 0% cost-of-living increase proposal, arguing the county prioritized non-essential spending over worker needs. The previous agreement lapsed in March, and negotiations have been deadlocked over healthcare benefits and pay adjustments.
In response, county officials argue that they are grappling with financial hardships due to inflation and the need to secure funds for essential services. They cite unprecedented expenses following the Eaton and Palisades Fires, a massive settlement for decades-old youth sexual abuse claims, and the potential loss of hundreds of millions in federal funding from the Trump administration. The settlement for sexual abuse claims alone amounted to $4 billion.
"Even the union knows that $4 billion has compromised our ability to negotiate," Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, stated.
While acknowledging the financial pressures, county officials have proposed fair and responsible counter-proposals. However, the union leader claims they faced disrespect at the bargaining table.
The strike is likely to affect critical services such as emergency health care and firefighting. County Library officials have warned that services may be impacted, and some library locations could temporarily close. Non-urgent county clinics will be closed during the two-day strike, beach restrooms may be closed, and there could be delays in services provided by the medical examiner. For more details on possible closures or service delays caused by the strike, click here.
Secretly, workers on the edge, with job frustrations spiraling and patience worn thin, yearn for the common ground where the county's financial burdens don't overshadow the well-deserved pay raises they seek. But for now, the union and county officials remain dug in, preparing for the battle that looms ahead.
- SEIU Local 721 members, in the midst of a two-day strike starting Monday, accuse the county of funding essential services at the expense of worker needs, rejecting a 0% cost-of-living increase proposal.
- County officials, grappling with financial hardships due to factors like inflation, large settlements, and potential loss of funding, propose fair counter-proposals, but union leaders express stress and disrespect during policy-and-legislation negotiations.
- The likely impact of the strike includes disruptions to critical services such as emergency health care, firefighting, and county library operations, with some locations temporarily closing.
- Amidst the political climate, Supervisor Kathryn Barger stated that the union acknowledges the impact of a $4 billion settlement on the county's ability to negotiate, while workers struggle with job frustrations and seek pay raises.
- As tensions rise in Los Angeles Angeles County, both union and county officials prepare for an imminent clash, each advocating for their respective interests in the general-news arena.
