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 during our fall member drive.
A Coalition of LA County Unions Say Thousands of Workers Are 'Drowning' And Need A Wage Increase
Dave Gilotte, the president of the County Coalition of Unions, speaks at a press conference outside the LA County Hall of Administration.
(
Emily Elena Dugdale/LAist
)
“Show us that you care.”
That’s the message from the County Coalition of Unions, representing over 85,000 LA County workers including doctors, first responders, and service workers who are currently in contract negotiations.
Union leaders at a press conference on Thursday morning said that the county has not adequately met their bargaining demands of a fair wage increase to offset unprecedented inflation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the fifteen unions in the coalition, SEIU 721, which represents roughly 55,000 county public service employees, is currently voting to authorize a strike. Other unions have also taken to the streets recently to raise awareness for their contract negotiations.
Support for LAist comes from
Dave Gilotte, president of the County Coalition of Unions, pointed to a graph that showed a steady increase in inflation over the past year – the number hit 8.5% in March.
“This is very serious,” Gilotte said, explaining that his members are coping with choosing between gas and rent. And that’s putting them at odds with management.
“For the first time ever, we find ourselves adverse and not in a position to have an arrangement where we can work together to solve contract bargaining.”
In a statement, the county said that they were engaged in good faith negotiations with the labor unions. “We are hopeful that we will reach an agreement soon, on a fair contract that is fiscally responsible and recognizes our valued employees' essential contributions,” the statement read.
Julian Hirschbaum, vice president of the union representing resident physicians at LAC+USC Medical Center, said workers were “drowning” in debt and the rising cost of living.
Hirschbaum said after two long months of negotiation, the county has frozen their wage increase.
“Our first year resident physician makes about $14 an hour,” he said. “Let that sink in for a second. That's less than minimum wage.”
Support for LAist comes from
He said during the past few years medical workers have “endured the most grueling years of our career.”
“We called families and had to tell them that their loved one was not going to come home. And we held their hand while they took their last breath in the intensive care unit,” he said.
Hirschbaum said they did that because they cared about their community.
“And what did we get in return?”
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.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent. -
Kevin Lacy has an obsession with documenting California’s forgotten and decaying places. -
Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures.
Best of LAist