United Hundreds of LA County Union Members Will Make a Difference in Upcoming Elections, Proposed Changes to Civil Service Rules

What can hundreds of SEIU Local 721 members accomplish? A lot!

Involvement is ongoing in an important election to the County Board of Supervisors in South LA, in examining concerns over the county’s proposed changes to civil service rules and in creating a forum for union members in similar occupations to promote positive changes to their professions.

SEIU Members Can Elect A Champion for Working Families
Court reporter and SEIU Board Member Arnella Sims told more than 300 union members why she is supporting Sen. Mark Ridley Thomas for Second District Supervisor.

“This is a really important race, the five supervisors control the county, they have few checks and balances and they control the $22 billion budget,” she said. Sims read from a recent report in the Daily News: “Mark Ridley-Thomas is regarded as the champion of labor. In some ways, this will be the classic labor-vs.-business race. This is a pivotal seat in that whichever way the person who wins it leans will make up a majority of the voters, either on the liberal side or the conservative side of the board.”

Changes Could Affect Your Job
The county has proposed changes to the rating standards in the civil service rules regarding performance evaluations. LAC+USC Union Steward and Chair of the union’s Bargaining Policy Committee presented the issue and union members expressed concern and offered possible solutions. Union members will meet with the County Jan. 17 on this issue. Please contact the chairperson of your bargaining unit or your steward with thoughts or ideas.

Furthering Our Careers
Union members presented a bold new model to unite members by their profession across geographical lines. Members cited a recent improvement in Riverside where social workers took lessons learned from social workers in Orange and Los Angeles counties to create an after hours emergency response team that does not further tax social workers and fairly compensates employees. Librarians, court reporters, nurses and others spoke of professional alliances they have created through their union to tackle problems and identify solutions specific to their professions. Contact your steward or worksite organizer to share your ideas.