Thousands of Los Angeles County workers are on strike. They are citing alleged bad-faith negotiations by the county in their efforts to secure a new contract, which is causing disruptions to public services.
Roughly 55,000 LA County workers with the Service Employees International Union 721 walked off the job Monday night to take part in the LA County Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike.
Workers across departments join the picket line
Workers from all departments — including health care workers, social workers, parks and recreation staff, clerical workers, custodians and more — hit the picket line, citing an “end to the county’s lawbreaking and disrespect.”
The union says its workers are demanding that the county bargain with them in good faith.
“The 55,000 union strong LA County workforce has serviced nearly 10 million residents in a 4,084 square-mile service area through the COVID pandemic; through the recent winter wildfires; and through non-stop emergency situations in healthcare, foster care, social welfare, traffic enforcement, street repair and much more for many years,” a press release states.
Union alleges retaliation, surveillance and lack of county offer
The union claims county leaders did not present workers with a strong contract, surveilled and retaliated against union members engaged in union activity, restricted union organizers’ access to worksites, and contracted out union-represented positions.
They say the county did not offer workers a proposal with a cost-of-living increase. The union also pointed to recent spending by the Board of Supervisors.
“Somehow found a spare $205 million recently to buy a skyscraper in downtown LA that will serve as new office space for themselves and LA County management. These are the very same people telling the workforce — and taxpayers — that there is no money for more services or frontline staff,” the union said.
County points to budget deficit, rising costs
Supervisor Kathryn Barger, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, told NBC Los Angeles that the county cannot afford cost-of-living increases for workers as it is dealing with a massive deficit.
Earlier this month, Straight Arrow News reported that county leaders agreed to a $4 billion settlement for child sex abuse victims who claimed they were abused in the county’s juvenile and foster care systems.
The county also accrued nearly $1 billion in costs associated with January’s deadly Eaton and Palisades wildfires.
County proposes budget cuts and warns of funding loss
Los Angeles County leaders released their proposed budget for the next year and said the county is facing “unprecedented challenges.” The proposal includes county departments making 3% cuts to their budgets and eliminating 310 vacant positions.
County leaders also express concern that they may lose COVID-19 pandemic funding, which was initially intended to flow into 2026. However, the Trump administration rescinded the funding. That move is being challenged in court.
According to a county news release, the budget cuts do not include layoffs, for now.
The workers’ strike is expected to last 48 hours and end Wednesday evening.
