Tens of thousands of LA County union workers are now on strike

Tens of thousands of L.A. County workers have walked off the job and are now on strike. It is expected to last through Wednesday.

The action comes as the county's largest union — SEIU Local 721, which represents more than 55,000 county workers in 36 of 38 departments — has been in contract negotiations with the county for months. The union contract for healthcare professionals, social workers, public works employees, custodians and others expired in March.

The strike is expected to disrupt or delay some public services.

Why the strike?

The union says the county has refused to bargain in good faith, has excessively outsourced contracts, kept wages stagnant and retaliated against union employees, among other unfair labor practices.

“This is the workforce that got L.A. County through emergency after emergency: the January wildfires, public health emergencies, mental health emergencies, social service emergencies and more,” said David Green, SEIU 721’s president, who also has worked as a social worker for the county for two decades, in a statement from the union. “That’s why we have had it with the labor law violations and demand respect for our workers.”

The union says they have no choice now but to walk off the job.

The county denies the allegations.

“We are disappointed that the union is choosing to announce a work action that, if carried out, will affect residents and impact service delivery at a time of great public need,” a spokesperson with the county’s Chief Executive Office said in an email to LAist.

The county blamed significant budget issues on delaying ongoing contract negotiations.

“The county is facing unprecedented stresses on our budget, including a tentative $4 billion settlement of thousands of childhood sexual assault claims ... a projected $2 billion in impacts related to the January wildfires and recovery, and the potentially catastrophic loss of hundreds of millions or more in federal funding,” the county’s statement to LAist reads.

How the strike may affect services

The county is preparing for potential delays and disruptions to certain public services during the three-day strike.

The county’s CEO Fesia Davenport said on LAist’s AirTalk that “many of our libraries, if not all of them, will be closed.” Staff will still be able to answer phone calls and the digital library will be open.

The Department of Health Services is also expected to have significantly reduced staff during the strike but will continue to operate emergency services. However, health appointments may be canceled or delayed.

You can find an up-to-date list of affected services here.