more than 11,000 city workers in Los Angeles are preparing to launch a 24-hour walkout on Monday to protest the ongoing contract negotiations with union officials and city leaders. Their plan is to picket outside key locations such as City Hall and Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday. This strike action represents the first of its kind in over 40 years. The employees, which include sanitation workers, heavy duty mechanics, traffic officers, and engineers represented by SEIU Local 721, voted with 98% approval in May to authorize an Unfair Labor Practice strike if negotiations came to a halt.
According to union officials, the workers will gather at City Hall at 11 a.m. for a march and rally before setting up picket lines across the city as early as 4 a.m. The statement released by SEIU 721 last week expressed disappointment in the city’s refusal to honor previous agreements and their allegations of unfair labor practices filed with the city of Los Angeles Employee Relations Board.
Although Mayor Karen Bass is currently in Washington, D.C. for meetings with federal officials, she has assured that Los Angeles officials are available round the clock to make progress in the contract negotiations. Bass emphasizes the importance of city workers in the daily functioning of services for Angelenos and the local economy.
This labor action coincides with ongoing strikes by Hollywood writers, actors, and hospitality workers represented by Unite HERE Local 11. SEIU 721 officials acknowledged the packed summer of strikes but emphasized that their fight for respect goes beyond the summer, holding onto the goal of fair and protective contracts.
SEIU Local 721 represents more than 95,000 public sector workers in Southern California. They stress that the timing of this strike is crucial, with upcoming events like the World Cup and Olympic Games putting significant strain on frontline services in the city. Additionally, Los Angeles is currently facing a job vacancy rate of over 20% across departments.
David Green, president and executive director of SEIU 721, anticipates over 30 strike lines throughout the city on Tuesday. Green emphasizes the importance of the city coming back to the table, filling vacancies, and addressing the concerns of the public. He warns that residents may experience a lack of service, affecting areas such as trash pickup, harbor protection, park maintenance, and airport security at LAX.
In November 2022, the union ratified a one-year agreement with the city, with plans to resume bargaining immediately after the winter holidays. However, the city has reneged on this promise, which has prompted the union to file an unfair labor practice claim with the City of Los Angeles Employee Relations Board. This issue, along with other claims filed in recent months, has left the union with a determination to no longer tolerate unfair labor practices.
The last strike by Los Angeles city workers took place in November 1980.
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