More than 400 LADOT employees packed City Council Chambers on Oct. 16 to tell city leaders: the leadership crisis at LADOT is putting the public at risk.
Senior Managers and Transportation Engineers spoke out, as Meter Technicians, Draftsmen, Clerical Workers and Field Operations Crews showed solidarity.
View photos of the action below.
Principal Transportation Engineer Jay Kim told the Council of his concern for the future of LADOT. The current leadership’s policies have made things “unsustainable.”
Senior Transportation Engineer Pauline Chan said she once embraced the new leadership, but it has failed to engage with city residents.
Signal Systems Superintendent Scott Morril expressed frustration at huge staffing shortages and increased workloads, which jeopardize public safety.
Senior Transportation Engineer Brian Gallagher said that response times at district offices are up to 8 months, when it used to be just 45 days.
After each speaker, the standing crowd erupted in applause.
SEIU 721 Steward and Transportation Engineer Michael Hunt closed things out by speaking to the mayor: “We love your visions for this city and want to help implement them. … But you have to start by making your Department of Transportation functional. It is not currently. Work with us. Talk with us. We want to help you.”
Download a flyer about the action to post at your worksite.
Media coverage
-LA Times: L.A. transportation employees have ‘lost confidence’ in top manager
-LA Times (before the action): L.A. City Council to hear complaints from transportation workers
-La Opinion: Empleados piden nuevo líder en el transporte de Los Angeles
-LA Daily News: LA Department of Transportation Workers Protest Management Changes
-KNX News Radio: DOT Union Members Lobby City Council For GM’s Lay Off
For more information, contact Worksite Organizer Paul Kim: (213) 271-3150 or paul.kim@seiu721.org.