City employees in Los Angeles launched a one-day strike on Tuesday, alleging unfair working conditions and accusing their employer of “bad faith” contract negotiations, according to NBC. Represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 721, more than 11,000 city workers participated in the walkout, highlighting concerns such as understaffing and the need for overtime work in city agencies.
The strike, anticipated to last for 24 hours, is expected to disrupt various public services, including garbage collection, homeless camp cleanups, animal shelter operations, public pool access, and parking enforcement delays.
Gilda Valdez, Chief of Staff for SEIU Local 721, emphasized that the intention behind the strike is not to cause harm, but rather to send a strong message to the city administration about addressing workers’ concerns and negotiating fairly.
The union’s members include sanitation workers, mechanics, traffic officers, engineers, and others. The strike began at 12:01 am on Tuesday, with workers picketing at locations such as Los Angeles International Airport and City Hall.
SEIU Local 721 had previously reached an agreement with the city government that remains valid until December. However, negotiations took a downturn when the city combined these discussions with upcoming contract negotiations, prompting the union to file an unfair labor practice complaint.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated that the strike would not lead to a city shutdown but advised travelers to allow extra time due to potential disruptions. She expressed the city’s readiness to resume contract negotiations with striking workers at any point.
Recent labor activity has seen various strikes across the United States, with California experiencing increased worker mobilization linked to issues like escalating rents and homelessness. In Los Angeles, hotel workers demanded improved wages and benefits, while actors protested over collapsed Screen Actors Guild-studio talks. The Writers Guild of America also embarked on a strike, advocating for better compensation and writers’ staffing standards on TV shows.
In Northern California, approximately 4,500 San Jose city employees plan a three-day strike next week to raise concerns about understaffing and low pay in city agencies.
