Over 11,000 city workers in Los Angeles have organized a 24-hour strike starting Tuesday to address their concerns about “a lack of good faith” during negotiations. This will be the first city worker strike in over 40 years and will include various employees such as sanitation workers, mechanics, traffic officers, and engineers. These workers, represented by SEIU Local 721, voted with an overwhelming 98% approval in May to authorize an Unfair Labor Practice strike if negotiations fell through.
The union has planned a march and rally at City Hall, starting at 11 a.m., although picket lines will be set up at various locations around the city as early as 4 a.m.
“Despite repeated efforts by city workers to engage in fair bargaining, the City has consistently refused to honor previous agreements, leading workers to file charges of unfair labor practices with the city of Los Angeles Employee Relations Board,” stated SEIU 721 officials last week.
Mayor Karen Bass, currently in Washington, D.C. for meetings with federal officials, assured that Los Angeles officials are available 24/7 to make progress in the contract negotiations. She acknowledged the essential role of city workers in providing services to Angelenos and the local economy, emphasizing their deserving of fair contracts.
The upcoming strike coincides with ongoing strikes by Hollywood writers, actors, and workers in the hospitality industry. Thousands of hotel employees represented by Unite HERE Local 11, including cooks, maids, dishwashers, servers, bellmen, and front-desk agents, are also participating in labor actions.
Seizing the momentum, SEIU 721 officials tweeted in late July, “It feels like it’s ‘Strike Summer’ because it is. But our fight for respect doesn’t end with the summer. It ends when we have contracts that adequately protect and compensate us.”
SEIU Local 721 represents over 95,000 public sector workers in Southern California.
The union emphasized that the city strike is happening at a critical moment, with the World Cup and Olympic Games approaching. These events will have significant and lasting impacts on the Southern California region, increasing the strain on frontline services in the city due to the influx of tourists and athletes.
In addition, the city currently faces a job vacancy rate of more than 20% across various departments.
David Green, president and executive director of SEIU 721, stated in an interview with City News Service that they expect over 30 picket lines throughout the city on Tuesday.
“We will be striking all across the city to send a message that the city is breaking the law,” Green emphasized. “They need to come back to the negotiating table, address these vacancies, and listen to the concerns of the public.”
Residents may experience a lack of services on Tuesday, including areas such as trash collection, harbor protection, park maintenance, and airport security.
The union previously reached a one-year agreement with the city in November 2022, with the expectation of returning to the bargaining table after the winter holidays to discuss specific proposals. However, according to Gilda Valdez, SEIU Local 721 Chief of Staff, the city has reneged on its promise to negotiate these issues. Consequently, the union filed an unfair labor practice claim with the City of Los Angeles Employee Relations Board.
“We refuse to tolerate unfair labor practices during negotiations or at any time. We’ve had enough,” said Valdez.
The last strike by Los Angeles city workers took place in November 1980.
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