Thousands of LA County Workers Begin Strike Monday Night

LOS ANGELES, CA — More than 55,000 Los Angeles County workers walked off the job Monday evening at 7 p.m., initiating a two-day strike. Members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 721 are protesting alleged violations of labor laws, which they claim have gone unaddressed for six months.

The strike could significantly disrupt services for nearly 10 million residents, including non-urgent health clinics, public libraries, and public works operations. Union officials have stated that they will maintain picket lines until Wednesday at 6:59 p.m.

According to David Green, president of SEIU 721, the strike has arisen due to the county’s refusal to negotiate meaningful wage increases and to fill numerous vacancies. “These folks… the 721 members, we’re public servants. Nobody does this job because they want to get rich or because it’s glamorous work. We’re all here to serve the public, they feel really disrespected and they don’t feel heard,” Green said.

The union claims that the county has proposed a 0% increase in the cost of living while simultaneously approving $205 million for new office space. LA County officials dispute these claims, highlighting a budget impacted by various financial strains, such as billions allocated for sexual assault claims and wildfire recovery.

The union asserts there are at least 44 labor law violations that remain unaddressed, which has compounded frustrations among workers. “We realize that the public is the one that loses if there are 12,000 vacancies or if there’s almost $8 billion in contracting out that goes on,” Green added.

The county’s management expressed disappointment over the strike announcement, emphasizing their commitment to negotiate in good faith. They aim to represent workers effectively while navigating ongoing budgetary challenges.

As the strike progresses, residents may experience closures and reduced service availability across several departments. For an updated list of services affected, residents are encouraged to check with the county’s communications.