Labor Day in Southern California this year is taking on a different tone, as it becomes more about workers’ protests and demands rather than the traditional barbecues and celebrations. Strikes, tense labor negotiations, and general unrest have been making headlines for months as workers and unions fight for better wages, increased staffing, safer working conditions, and protection against artificial intelligence replacing their jobs. This tension is evident across various industries, including Hollywood writers and actors, hotel workers, healthcare employees, and even dancers at a strip club in North Hollywood.
On Labor Day, thousands of healthcare workers, including employees from Kaiser and Prime Healthcare, will be marching in Los Angeles. The ongoing feuds and bargaining tactics have led to different perceptions of the labor movement, with some seeing it as a tool for positive change and others considering it an abuse of union power. The underlying issue behind all this worker discontent is money, as stated by Lawrence Harris, a professor of business at the USC Marshall School of Business. With a higher number of retirees compared to new workers entering the workforce, there is a scarcity of labor. In a thriving economy, one would expect wages to rise accordingly, but when they fail to keep up with market conditions, workers become more willing to strike. Additionally, rising prices for gas, groceries, and housing have further contributed to workers’ financial struggles and their willingness to take action.
Labor unrest continues to make waves, with LAX employees such as cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, and food attendants employed by Areas USA now voting to authorize a strike. These 450 workers, represented by Unite Here Local 11, have reached their breaking point. Susan Minato, co-president of Unite Here, highlighted how the travel and tourism industry has profited while leaving its workers living paycheck to paycheck. As for writers and actors, the strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has already lasted 126 days, and negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers show no sign of reaching an agreement. The WGA alleges that writers’ average incomes have significantly reduced due to the AMPTP’s share of the residuals. Furthermore, concerns over the use of artificial intelligence in scriptwriting have also fueled the strike.
SAG-AFTRA, the labor union representing media professionals, actors, and entertainers, joined in the strike on July 14, citing similar concerns about the use of AI. Both strikes have caused significant financial loss for businesses like Bob Bekian’s Loyal Studios, with productions moving to states offering attractive incentives. The strike wave has also hit the hospitality industry, with around 15,000 hotel workers on strike. Represented by Unite Here Local 11, these employees are demanding a $5-per-hour wage increase, continued healthcare coverage, pension plan upgrades, and fair workloads. Striking hotel workers are calling for conventions to boycott Los Angeles until the industry provides a living wage and addresses alleged violence on the picket lines. However, spokesperson Keith Grossman warns of the adverse effects on employees and union members if conventions decide to relocate.
In the healthcare sector, workers at Southern California hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes have also taken part in pickets and strikes. Their demands include increased staffing and higher wages, as inadequate staffing has led to burnout and compromised patient care. Thousands of healthcare workers plan to march and rally on Labor Day, calling for healthcare corporations to prioritize workers’ needs and address the patient care crisis. The possibility of a strike looms as 85,000 Kaiser healthcare workers vote on whether to authorize one. After experiencing skeletal staffing and being on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, workers hope to address the issues of employee burnout and high turnover that have exacerbated staffing shortages.
Although some progress has been made in negotiations, such as accelerated hiring efforts by Kaiser, the possibility of a strike is disappointing to the healthcare giant. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic-driven labor shortage, Kaiser remains committed to addressing concerns raised by the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. As the labor unrest across various industries continues, workers are banding together to fight for better conditions, wages, and job security, while businesses and industries face uncertain outcomes.
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