More Than 50,000 Los Angeles Workers Strike for Labor Rights

More than 50,000 Los Angeles County workers across the region have organized for a two-day strike as a demand for fair pay, respect, and an end to alleged labor law violations.

This signifies the historic aggregation of all members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721, over 55,000 public employees, on the strike line. The union, which also includes thousands of public health workers, social workers, parks and recreation staff, clerks, and custodians, are public employees who make possible services for the nearly 10 million residents of the county.

Services Disrupted Across Los Angeles County

Some temporarily closed are libraries, some health clinics, beach restrooms, and public counters at the Hall of Administration. Also expected are delays in the medical examiner’s office and services of agency public works. The union said the county committed a total of 44 labor law violations which referred to retaliation, overseeing activities of union members, and hiring contractors to replace union jobs.

Financial Problems Faced by the County

In response, LA County officials said that they are going through unprecedented budget stress. This would include:

• $4 billion for the settlement of childhood sexual abuse claims
• $2 billion for the damages caused by of January wildfires
• Possible reductions in federal funding