The recent Supreme Court decision about the union rights of Illinois homecare workers focused national attention on the well-funded legal attacks on public employees, but they’re nothing new. At a recent meeting of our International Union, we heard report after report of billionaire-funded efforts to roll back workers’ pay, benefits, and organizing rights. Leonardo da Vinci once said that the people who change the world don’t let things happen to them. Instead, they happen to things. That’s why, instead of waiting for bad things to happen, 721 members are getting organized to make things happen.

721 Members Making Things Happen

Instead of letting big two Wall Street banks, Mellon and Dexia, bilk the City of Los Angeles for hundreds of millions in excessive payments for bad interest rate swaps, City of L.A. 721 members built a powerful coalition with other city unions and more than 20 community and faith-based groups. Fix L.A. is pushing the council to recover millions in fees lost to these predatory deals, restore vital services, and bargain a fair contract that protects city workers. In Ventura, 721 members have joined with police, firefighters, and community groups to fight a pension rollback measure backed by out-of-state “dark money” groups. 721 will launch an unprecedented door-to-door field effort to protect the retirement security of our members and other county employees.

Past Efforts Paying Off for Members

In Riverside County, we’re building on big wins at the settlement table with County management. County workers will see additional FLEX benefits and pay increases of up to 8 percent that began kicking in at the end of June. County of L.A. workers will receive a $250 bonus this month and up to $133 per month in additional take-home pay next year as a result of their aggressive Turn It Up! campaign.

None of this would have happened without the solidarity of our union and the incredible efforts of our members.

Bob Schoonover, President