Los Angeles County Student Workers Celebrate Union Recognition
Nearly 800 student temporary employees who work closely with permanent Los Angeles County employees, in virtually every County department, recently gained a voice at work with SEIU Local 721.
On Monday, June 25, the Los Angeles County Employee Relations Commission (ERCOM) approved Local 721's request to create a new bargaining unit of Los Angeles County student workers, having confirmed earlier this spring that a majority of the student workers signed cards in support of joining the union.
Los Angeles County student workers, who receive just $8.80 to $12 an hour with no health insurance, retirement benefits or paid time off, began taking steps to form their union with SEIU earlier this spring.
Lourdes Moralez, a two-year student employee in the Los Angeles County Probation Department, said she and other student workers joined together to have a voice at work like their coworkers who are already members of SEIU Local 721.
"When the County uses temp workers to do permanent jobs it makes it a lot worse for everyone," said Moralez, who traveled to Sacramento three times this spring to lobby state legislators on behalf of temporary workers in public service. "We can definitely make a difference when all County employees are together, otherwise jobs with low pay and no benefits will become more common."
The student workers' effort to join SEIU Local 721 is part of a statewide campaign that includes uniting with 500 temp workers in Ventura and nearly 3,000 in Riverside.
L.A. County student workers came together at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 12 for their first meeting as a bargaining unit.
For more information, contact Tanya Akel at 213-368-8608.
Background: Read more and watch a video about how L.A. County's student workers came together to form their union.