With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Los Angeles mayor hails labor contract, says other unions must follow
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa formally announces today that for the first time in the city a union of civilian city employees has agreed to share in the cost of their health care. He speaks at a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010.
(
Jason Kandel/KPCC
)
Michael Davies, the interim executive director of the Engineers and Architects Association, announces the union of civilian city employees has agreed to share in the cost of their health care. He speaks at a press conference at City Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010 at Los Angeles City Hall.
(
Jason Kandel/KPCC
)
Listen
3:21
Los Angeles mayor hails labor contract, says other unions must follow
Los Angeles mayor hails labor contract, says other unions must follow
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Tuesday said the city’s Engineers and Architects Association (EAA) should be an example to other unions that they must pay more for their healthcare.
The mayor said EAA’s 4,000 members have agreed for the first time to pay 5 percent of their healthcare premiums. Until now, they’ve paid nothing. They’ve also agreed to higher co-pays and lower bonus pay for bilingual and other skills.
“In these tough times, this is exactly the kind of thing we have to do – share in the sacrifice,” the mayor said.
The city faces revenue shortfalls this year and a more than $300 million deficit next year. Officials estimate the city’s healthcare cost will rise $153 million over the next four years.
Sponsored message
"At a time when we are reducing library hours and curtailing fire service, this is an unsustainable expenditure in the city of Los Angeles," Villaraigosa said.
The Engineers and Architects contract saves the city $20 million this year, and $10 million a year after that.
Other city unions blasted the deal.
The Coalition of LA City Unions, which represents 22,000 city workers issued a statement that said “the agreement would permanently give up hard-fought gains in benefits and employment rights that had been built up over decades … all in exchange for a one-time reduction in furlough days.”
Under the deal, city will reduce unpaid furlough days for EAA members from 26 to 10 this year.
The union’s Interim Executive Director Michael Davies defended the deal.
“It’s not enough simply to say no and feel that somehow this storm is going to be weathered and that within 12 months or 24 months the city will be back into a situation where they can afford to provide a 100 percent subsidy for a healthcare premium," said Davies. “Those days have ended."
Sponsored message
Villaraigosa said the coalition and other unions must agree to increase healthcare payments and to pension reforms, or face more layoffs. He singled out the unions that represent police and firefighters on changing their pensions.
"We will go to impasse on this issue, we will move ahead to make the tough choices to put us in a more sustainable position."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
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.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
