Los Angeles City Workers Strike for One Day Citing Unjust Labor Practices

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On Tuesday, over 11,000 employees of Los Angeles, comprising of workers in sanitation, lifeguarding, and traffic control, staged a 24-hour walkout, protesting what they claim are unjust labor practices.

Before the break of day, picket lines were formed at various places, including Los Angeles International Airport, and a demonstration was scheduled for later in the day at City Hall. According to SEIU Local 721, among the strikers were airport custodians, heavy duty mechanics, and engineers.

The reason for the strike, the union stated, is the city’s failure to negotiate in good faith, coupled with actions that have limited the rights of both employees and the union itself.

Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles responded on Monday, emphasizing the importance of city workers to both the city’s services and the economy. She assured that the city has been engaged in honest negotiations with SEIU 721 since January and reiterated their commitment to work towards progress around the clock.

This is not the first such labor disturbance in the nation’s second-largest city recently. In the past few months, strikes have been staged by Hollywood writers, actors, hotel workers, and school staff, and there have also been contract issues at Southern California ports.

Mayor Bass maintained that the city will continue to operate, though some services like parking enforcement and traffic operations may be impacted. Trash collection schedules will also be modified for the week, returning to normal on Monday, according to officials.

Travelers to and from Los Angeles International Airport were advised to plan for additional travel time during the strike. Airport spokesperson Dae Levine assured on Monday that measures are being taken to keep operations as close to normal as possible.

The Department of Recreation and Parks revealed that approximately 300 lifeguards were expected to join the strike, though it was not immediately clear whether swimming pools would be closed. Meanwhile, around 300 employees of the Port of Los Angeles were also anticipated to participate in the walkout. Port spokesperson Phillip Sanfield expressed respect for the employees’ bargaining rights and confirmed that port operations would go on.

A one-year agreement was reached with the city by the union in November 2022, with the understanding that smaller specific proposals, or “specials,” would be negotiated later. However, SEIU Local 721 Chief of Staff Gilda Valdez claimed that the city backed out on this promise, leading to the union filing an unfair labor practice claim.

Valdez described the strike as a forceful message to the city, urging them to negotiate, and acknowledged the continuous effort of union members to keep the city functioning throughout the pandemic.

The union is set to recommence negotiations with the city during the week of August 14.

In related news, nearly 4,500 city employees in San Jose, Northern California, represented by two unions, voted on Monday to sanction a three-day strike scheduled for the coming week.

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• SEIU Local 721 Official Website
• Los Angeles City Government
• Los Angeles Times
• CNN Business Labor Section
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