Posts tagged SEIU Local 721

    LAPD makes several arrests during LA County union worker demonstration in downtown Los Angeles

    May 1, 2025 // The union points to unfair labor practices and is calling on the county to increase wages and fill vacancies. County officials have disputed the union's claims, saying that they're currently facing "unprecedented stresses on our budget," that includes a tentative $4 billion settlement of childhood assault claims, $2 billion in projected impact from the Palisades and Eaton fire damage and recovery and "potentially catastrophic loss of hundreds of millions or more in federal funding."

    SEIU shuts down Los Angeles for a daylong strike

    August 11, 2023 // The strike caused delays in trash collection, parking enforcement, and homeless encampment cleanups, in addition to the closure of public pools and animal shelters. Also, travelers were advised to plan for extra time when traveling to or from the airport. The union’s executive director and president David Green said, “We’re going to shut down the city of Los Angeles.” Green added, “The message we’re sending is that our workers are just fed up. They’ve reached a breaking point. And we need these folks in the city to come back to the table for the good of the city.”

    When California’s public workers go on strike

    August 11, 2023 // On Tuesday, thousands of city workers across Los Angeles, including staff at LAX and Van Nuys airport, City Hall, animal shelters, public swimming pools and other facilities, walked off the job for a 24-hour strike, reports the Los Angeles Times. There have been some efforts in the Legislature to expand strike rights for public workers. State Sen. Tom Umberg, a Democrat from Santa Ana, has proposed a constitutional amendment that would enshrine every worker’s right, including public sector employees, to join a union and negotiate with their employers “to protect their economic well-being and safety at work.” Another measure, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes of San Bernardino, would protect public employees from disciplinary action if they join a sympathy strike, refuse to cross a picket line or refuse cover work for striking co-workers.

    Over 11,000 L.A. workers plan to strike, hoping to ‘shut down’ city

    August 8, 2023 // Mayor Karen Bass (D) said Saturday that the city is committed to ensuring a fair contract for its workers. “City workers are vital to the function of services for millions of Angelenos every day and to our local economy. They deserve fair contracts and we have been bargaining in good faith with SEIU 721 since January,” Bass said. “The City will always be available to make progress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” Los Angeles International Airport and the Port of Los Angeles did not return requests for comment regarding the possible disruptions to their operations that the strike could cause.

    USC housing workers unionize in hopes of boosting pay, benefits

    June 21, 2023 // Mike Long, a spokesman for SEIU Local 721, said the climate is good for union action. “You can’t ignore the regional context with the Hollywood writers out on strike,” he said. “And there has been a flurry of activity across Southern California with hotel workers.” More than 15,000 Southern California hotel workers voted earlier this month to authorize a strike as they bargain for a $5-an-hour pay hike, more affordable health care, a secure pension plan and “safe and humane” workloads. Unite Here Local 11, which represents the room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, front desk agents, servers and food service workers, said it would be “the largest hotel worker strike in modern U.S. history” and could happen as early as the July 4 weekend.