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LA could cut 926 jobs in budget plan
Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti huddles with labor union leaders as the council considers confronts a $400 million budget shortfall. Powerful union leaders are demanding the city enact an early retirement plan.
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Frank Stoltze/KPCC
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Some 926 jobs could be cut and thousands of union employees could be required to take furloughs under a massive cost-cutting Los Angeles budget plan that the City Council agreed to unanimously this afternoon.
Furloughs and layoffs will begin Monday, Sept. 28 unless city officials and the unions can agree to an alternative plan by this Friday.
The issue has been referred to a formal bargaining committee that deals with the unions. If they're able to come up with an alternative plan involving early retirement, they will do that instead of going forward with layoffs and furloughs. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, however, has said he will veto any early retirement plan that will increase the budget.
The union leader and the city council president stated that they want to come to an agreement, but the city council president said that they're ready to go forward with layoffs and furloughs, and the union is threatening to go to the courts to stop layoffs if they have to.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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