SEIU 721 MEMBERS CRAFT STRATEGY AT L.A. COUNTY SUMMIT

Earlier this month, 721 members gathered high up in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains for a day-long summit on the future of our work in L.A. County.

From the vantage point of the Mount St. Mary’s campus, L.A. looks completely different. It’s a good reminder that, when it seems like we face insurmountable problems, we need to shift our perspective to find a way to win.

721 workers took the opportunity to meet directly with top L.A. decision makers, like DCFS Director Philip Browning and DPSS Director Sheryl Spiller. They learned successful organizing and media strategies from L.A. fast food workers engaged in a historic fight for $15 an hour and a union. They strategized about how to broaden the successful Fix L.A. campaign, which has shined a light on how big Wall Street banks are draining resources from the City of Los Angeles, into a countywide effort.

721 members came together later in the day with former state senator Shiela Kuehl, our endorsed candidate for L.A. County supervisor. She fired up members with a vision of a pro-worker majority on the Board of Supervisors. Members committed to walk and phone for her final campaign push and, as of this writing, Kuehl has been declared the winner.

We ended the day with a call for members to turn out for our Fix L.A. day of action on October 28th in the City of L.A. Thousands of workers marched on L.A. City Hall and presented Mayor Eric Garcetti with more than 9,000 petitions demanding the City of L.A. end bad deals with big Wall Street banks and restore city services cut in the wake of the worldwide financial crisis.

It’s a good reminder that the perspective you gain in the mountains can help you win back here on the ground.

Bob Schoonover, President