Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
In Nearly Unanimous Vote, LA County’s 55,000 Workers Authorize Union To Call A Strike
Ileana Meza, SEIU 721's bargaining policy committee chair, speaks at a press conference in Los Angeles on May 6, 2022.
(
Phoenix Tso
/
LAist
)
Los Angeles County workers in SEIU 721 have voted to approve the union to call a strike.
The union said in a press conference Friday that the vote passed with an overwhelming support of 98%.
“This behavior has been a slap in the face of frontline workers,” said Ileana Meza, who chairs the bargaining committee. “Our members are fed up and they’re frustrated.
LA County frontline workers vote to authorize strike. Says after working during pandemic, county has negotiated in bad faith - pay doesn’t match cost of living increases and jobs are being privatized. @kpcc @LAist pic.twitter.com/riV8eskX06
— Phoenix Tso (@tso_phoenix) May 6, 2022
Support for LAist comes from
Meza said it “pains us because we love the community that we serve.” But if the County returns to the table next week with “bad faith negotiations,” she said the union “will call a strike.”
The decision comes at a time when thousands of workers have tried to demand better wages and working conditions.
The union represents roughly 55,000 L.A. County employees who work in a variety of fields, including healthcare, social services and public works.
In a statement to LAist, the County said “negotiations are ongoing."
"The County remains hopeful of reaching a fair and fiscally responsible contract with our labor partners," the statement read. "Today’s authorization vote by SEIU is not a strike and services to the public are continuing without interruption."
Updated May 6, 2022 at 2:02 PM PDT
This story was updated to include a statement from the County.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
UCLA and University of California leaders are fighting Trump’s demands for a $1.2 billion settlement over a litany of accusations, including that the campus permits antisemitism. -
Wasteland Weekend is all about souped-up rust buckets, spikey costumes and an ‘ideal apocalypse.’ -
The Shadow the Scientists initiative at UC Santa Cruz strives to demystify astronomical research. -
Some submissions to the Pasadena Humane Society were made by extremely talented artists. The others … tried their best. -
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings.
Best of LAist