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.
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.
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
-
Heavy rain from the early-season storm could trigger debris flows. Snow is also possible above 7,000 feet. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership announces that 11% of the workforce is being cut. -
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
Best of LAist