“We’re in the worst economic times in 80 years. We’re not going to get out of this by throwing a bunch of one-liners out there and holding a press conference. That’s not how we’re going to do this.” -SEIU 721 President Bob Schoonover on Good Day LA, April 8
By Thursday the mayor backed away, saying that money had been found and the shutdown was no longer needed.
Trash truck driver Andy Morales pointed out on KCBS that the $73 million in dispute from DWP was the same amount owed by one deadbeat debtor to the city: “If they were to pay that right now that would solve the problem that the mayor and the DWP are going back and forth on.” See the video at seiu721.org.
A Strong Budget for LA
City workers are proposing a package of concrete solutions for this year and the future, not short-sighted cuts and panicky political maneuvers. Elements of our plan include:
- Implement city workers solutions: $124.5 million
- Collect from deadbeat debtors: $106 million
- Trim expensive outsourcing: $79.6 million
- Demand that banks act like responsible neighbors: $116.6 million
Act Now to Win a Strong Budget
Get involved now to stop layoffs, bumping, furloughs and service cuts, and to win our strong budget instead of the mayor’s wrong budget.
Call your steward, worksite organizer, or the Member Action Center at (877) 721-4YOU [4968].