As of today, LA County members have been working without a contract for more than two months. That’s because the County is refusing to give our members raises and make them effective on October 1, the same day they made them effective for management.

But it’s also because the County is turning a deaf ear to the members of two units specifically. Children’s social workers carry two to three times the numbers of cases permitted by their contract, and yet the County doesn’t care. In bargaining, we’ve demanded that social worker to-child ratios be lowered, but the County refuses to discuss this.

Then there are our brothers and sisters who work for the Dept. of Public Social Services (DPSS). At the eleventh hour the County made proposals that would affect their shifts and reduce their ability to help LA County’s families.

In both of these cases, the County is trying to divide and conquer. They want to pit our members against each other. But we see things differently. As an important union saying goes, “An injury to one is an injury to all.” We won’t allow the County to pit bargaining units against each other. We will stand together in unity and fight together on the lines for a contract that’s fair to our members and that raises up the people of LA County. We are one union. We are united. And we are strong.

For the record, we are not done with our contract fight. We were forced by the County to strike, but we have now suspended the strike and are going back to the table. We hope to wrap the contract up in time for Christmas.

Speaking of which, I wish you all the very best for a happy, healthy and safe holiday season and a prosperous new year.

In Solidarity,
Bob Schoonover
SEIU 721 President and LA City
Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic