For months, LA County has refused to bargain in good faith. Thousands of fed up SEIU 721 members are about to turn up the heat.
SEIU 721 members are fed up with LA County management’s disrespect for their own frontline workforce. Despite our attempts to negotiate in good faith, county negotiators ground the bargaining process to a halt with
stalling tactics.
Instead of working with SEIU 721, county management let our contract expire at the end of March and floated ideas for balancing the budget on workers’ backs.
LA County management fooled around, now they are about to find out.
In my decades in this union, I’ve never seen SEIU 721 members this fired up, as thousands joined a full month of practice pickets. Elected officials across the region are taking notice, blowing up my phone to ask how they can help county workers. They can’t understand why LA County negotiators are inviting the first countywide strike in decades.
I tell politicians across the region the same thing. LA County workers have kept the region going through the pandemic, wildfires and other crises. They’re hammered by inflation and rising housing costs, and need help. They acknowledge the county’s budget challenges, but can’t understand the disrespect and failure to negotiate solutions. Now LA County leaders are going to find out.
AROUND OUR UNION
Congratulations, Annie!
Honoring Annie Torres: 32 Years of Service to LA County DCFS
After 32 years of dedicated service, Annie Torres retired from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), celebrated by family, friends, and colleagues. The luncheon, organized by Executive Board Member Sharonda Wade, included a plaque from SEIU 721 and a certificate of recognition from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Over her career, Annie worked under more than 25 supervisors in various specialized units, mentored countless coworkers, and impacted thousands of Angelenos. In her farewell speech, she shared that the most valuable lesson she learned was to “meet people where they are, not where you want them to be—and always listen.”
Annie’s compassion and dedication have left a lasting impact on her colleagues and community.
Congratulations, Annie, on a well-earned retirement!
LA County Takes Action After Practice Pickets
For five weeks, SEIU 721 members held wave after wave of Practice Pickets at worksites across LA County — from Norwalk’s Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office to DPSS Compton, the Zev Yaroslavsky Family Support Center in Van Nuys, and beyond. Our powerful presence sent a clear message: We’re ready to fight for what we deserve.
LA County Responds to Our Demands
Our efforts are paying off. LA County just agreed to two key demands:
• Serious Bargaining: The County agreed to meet more frequently with our Bargaining Policy Committee (BPC), which negotiates wage increases (COLA) and fringe benefits. Full-week BPC bargaining is now scheduled for the next three weeks.
• Fringe Benefits Progress: On March 20, the County finally responded, stating they’re “working diligently to provide more than a 0% COLA offer.”
Breaking the logjam on Line Pass Negotiations
We also made progress on Line Pass negotiations, which prevent the County from seeking an injunction during a strike, maximizing our power. After the County refused to bargain in good faith, we filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge that brought the County back to the table. Line Pass negotiations began on March 17, and will continue through April 12.
Progress, But the Fight Isn’t Over
While these are important steps forward, a ULP Strike is still on the table. We’ll keep pushing until LA County delivers a fair deal.
Stay ready, stay strong — together, we win!
SEIU 721 Members in Higher Ed Demand Justice
Faculty at LMU and USD rally for justice and fair contracts Faculty at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) and the University of San Diego (USD) are taking a stand for fair union contracts and social justice. Non-tenure track (NTT) faculty and Visiting Assistant Professors (VAP) at LMU, along with NTT faculty
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Victory for LA County Eligibility Workers:
The LA County Employee Relations Committee (ERCOM) has ordered LA County DPSS to cease and desist from its use of task-based case handling — a major victory for SEIU 721 Eligibility Workers.
Protecting Our Caseload Rights
Eligibility Workers in Bargaining Unit 731 are protected by our union contract, which states in Article 44 that work must be assigned by caseload, ensuring we manage cases from start to finish.
Task-based case handling, however, splits case management into isolated tasks assigned to different workers. This approach disrupts workflow, increases stress, and compromises the quality of service we provide to clients — prioritizing production over people.
Taking Action to Enforce Our Contract
Despite the contract’s clear language, DPSS management continued pushing for task-based case handling. When this escalated in December, we responded by filing an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with ERCOM.
ERCOM’s Ruling: A Clear Rebuke of DPSS
ERCOM ruled that DPSS:
A Union Win: Power in Unity
This victory proves that when we stand together as a union, we have real power. By defending our contract, we protected our rights and the well-being of our clients.
When we fight, we win!
CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
The SEIU 721’s Women’s Caucus held one of its annual event highlights with a celebration for Women’s History Month at Los Angeles City Hall. This year’s members-only event had the theme of Moving Forward Together: Women Educating & Inspiring Generations and was led by Caucus President Theresa Velasco and Kelly Dixon-Turner, who are also SEIU 721 Executive Board members. LA City Council Member Ysabel Jurado spoke during the event and thanked SEIU 721 members for their support and efforts which helped her get elected. Her remarks underscored the importance of our involvement with the Committee on Political Education (COPE) through which we’re able to support candidates who are champions for workers. Women have always been the backbone of the labor movement—leading strikes and securing fair contracts along the way. We will continue fighting for all workers despite efforts to silence women’s voices and roll back the progress we’ve made!
Ventura County Honors Social Workers During National Social Work Month
In March, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors officially proclaimed National Social Work Month in recognition of the critical work done by social workers across the county.
Maria Zavala, SEIU 721 steward and Human Services Adult Protective Services Social Worker III, accepted the proclamation and shared a touching story about Joseph, an elderly client who overcame challenges with the help of county services.
“Social workers do more than just provide services. We build trust, foster resilience, and restore hope,” Zavala told the board.
SEIU 721 proudly represents over 300 social workers in the Tri-Counties region, who continue to serve Ventura County’s most vulnerable populations with dedication and compassion.
Los Angeles Superior Court Names Shanna Gray as the
2025 Employee of the Year
The Los Angeles Superior Court just named Court Reporter Shanna Gray, a member of SEIU 721, as the 2025 Employee of the Year. Assigned to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Ms. Gray was nominated by Jesse Pickelsimer, Administrator II, for her outstanding contributions.
Ms. Gray graduated as Valedictorian from Bryan College of Court Reporting and passed the challenging California CSR state licensing exam on her first attempt in 2011. She began her career as a freelance court reporter before joining the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2019.
Since then, she has played a key role in the Court’s transition to electronic transcript delivery, helped develop an internship program, and contributed to the Court’s remote court reporting pilot program. Her leadership extends beyond the Court—she serves as President of the Los Angeles County Court Reporters’ Association (LACCRA), advocating for the profession and mentoring new reporters.
Ms. Gray actively supports her colleagues through training, mentorship, and special assignments, fostering a culture of excellence. Her dedication to justice and court operations makes her an invaluable asset.
The 2025 Employee of the Year nominations featured many exemplary employees, but Ms. Gray’s professionalism, commitment, and leadership set her apart. SEIU 721 congratulates Shana on this well-deserved honor!
The Inland Region is Ready to Bargain
There’s a flurry of activity across the Inland Region as members are gearing up to head to the table and win strong contracts. Our union siblings in the City of Riverside, Lake Hemet Municipal Water District and City of San Jacinto have been meeting and planning to build on successful campaigns from the last bargaining cycle.
There’s been a surge in union power in the Inland Region recently, and with more than 100,000 SEIU 721 members having our backs, Inland members are ready to keep up the momentum
The API Caucus meets monthly on the last Saturday of the month. To join us, email Susan.li@seiu721.org.
SEIU 721 chief of staff gilda valdez
Our Union
SEIU 721 COPE is our best protection against a wave of anti-worker policies coming out of Washington, D.C.
The news out of Washington, D.C. isn’t good for workers. The current administration is proposing billions in cuts to states’ Medicaid funding, ramping up attacks on immigrants and spiking inflation. That’s why COPE is more important than ever — if we can’t get help from the White House, we’d better make sure we have champions in the state Capitol and cities and counties around California.
What is COPE?
At SEIU 721, we know that politics affects everything we do as public service workers. We don’t just work for a company — we work for the public, and our “bosses” are elected officials who make critical decisions about our wages, benefits, working conditions, and the communities we serve. From protecting pensions to securing funding for vital public services, the policies that impact us are decided by at every level.
How Does COPE Make a Difference?
COPE funds help ensure that we have a voice in the political process. Like other SEIU locals across the country, SEIU 721 uses COPE funds to support legislative efforts that strengthen worker protections, improve public services, and secure fair contracts. These contributions allow us to educate voters, mobilize volunteers, and elect champions who will fight for working families.
How Can I Get Involved?
You can contribute to COPE through payroll deduction, making it easy to invest in your future. By giving to COPE, you are helping to protect your job, your benefits, and the communities you serve — now more than ever.
