Labor Day is about worker solidarity and our power to bring change
Happy Labor Day to our SEIU 721 family. Labor Day is about honoring the victories of our movement and recognizing the essential role unions play in uplifting families and communities across the country and around the world.
Public employees are facing big challenges right now — from massive budget cuts that threaten public-sector jobs and federal policies that favor the rich to attacks on immigrant communities. As union members, our greatest strength is solidarity.
When we fight together, we win. This year, 10,000 LA County members marched and made history, winning raises, bonuses, and better benefits while many other workers faced layoffs.
These gains demonstrate the power of unity. It’s time to grow this solidarity locally and nationally. That means fighting for fair wages, good jobs, and justice for all, and pushing back against those who try to divide or undermine us. It’s the only way to ensure everyone has food, shelter, dignity, and opportunity.
The energy I feel from every worksite visit, event, and conversation reminds me: SEIU 721 is a powerful family. This Labor Day, let’s recommit to what our union stands for and take collective action—to defend our rights, restore our communities, and create a future where working people lead the way.
SEIU 721 celebrates Labor Day
SEIU 721 Tri-Counties Members Join Hundreds of Union Siblings at the 2025 Ventura County Labor Day Picnic
LA County BPC Says Vote ‘Yes’ to Lock In
Our Contract Wins
We stood strong together through a historic ULP strike, civil disobedience, practice pickets, and relentless worksite actions.
Our unity built the momentum needed to win a strong contract every LA County worker can be proud of. While layoffs, pay cuts, and rising costs are hitting workers everywhere, we secured real victories that will make a difference for all of us.
Now it’s time to lock in our wins.
Our union’s Bargaining Policy Committee urges all of us to vote YES and ratify this new contract.
Cast your ballot today on the LA County Contract Headquarters page, or check the voting schedule to vote in person at your worksite. Let’s make our voices heard—vote YES!
Thousands of Gig Workers Sign Union Cards in August
Rideshare drivers organized thousands of fellow gig workers in August to sign support cards and urged them to get active in the fight for a California Gig Workers Union.
As part of a summer organizing blitz, gig workers have been canvassing airports across the state, including LAX, speaking to drivers about building a union and the collective power they need to win fair pay and just working conditions. The drivers have also called, texted, and emailed thousands more to garner support for forming a union.
For years, drivers have faced poverty wages, unfair deactivations, and no meaningful access to health benefits or workers’ compensation if they’re injured on the job.
Together, the workers will continue to build support for forming a union and advocate for lawmakers to pass Assembly Bill 1340 (AB 1340) — the state law that will give rideshare drivers the right to collectively bargain with gig companies like Uber and Lyft for better wages and working conditions.
SEIU 721 Clínica Monseño Oscar Romero Members Gear Up To Bargain New Contract
It’s time to win our next labor contract at Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero! SEIU 721 members at Clínica Romero have been filling out bargaining surveys about which issues they want to prioritize in the next campaign.
Surveys are a crucial step in the process because they help our union identify what needs to be addressed at worksites. Members have also been nominating coworkers to serve on the Bargaining Team. Your voices are vital as we work together to win the best contracts that honor our work in the community!
LA City Candidate Town Hall
On Saturday August 30, SEIU 721 members came together to conduct a COPE town hall. We heard from and interviewed candidates for LA City Attorney, and LA City Council Districts 3, 9 and 11.
Together, SEIU 721 COPE members are holding candidates and elected officials accountable.
We asked hard questions to ensure they will protect hardworking members’ union jobs and make Los Angeles more affordable for us and our families. SEIU 721 members shepherded Los Angeles through the pandemic and recent fires, and we want to ensure current and future elected officials acknowledge our hard work by treating us with dignity and respect.
As public sector employees, we get to elect our own bosses. Do you want to have a say in electing your own bosses? Join thousands of your fellow SEIU 721 members and become a COPE member today.
LMU Union Faculty Urge Campus Community to Support Contract Fight on Student Move-In Day
Non-tenure track (NTT) faculty handed out flyers at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) on Aug. 21 — a campus move-in day — and urged students, staff, and others to send a message to LMU’s president demanding a fair contract for union instructors.
The faculty members’ flyers linked to a form where one could send an email to President Thomas Poon calling on the university to bargain in good faith and reach an agreement by the end of the fall 2025 semester, which includes fair wages and benefits and improved working conditions.
The faculty members also educated students and others about the administration’s violations of labor law and foot-dragging at the bargaining table.
The faculty’s elected Bargaining Action Team recently authorized filing Unfair Labor Practice charges against LMU for withholding promotions for union NTT faculty and stopping regular merit-pay increases for full-time members of the unit. The moves egregiously violate labor law and these faculty members’ rights by discriminating against them as union members and unilaterally changing their working conditions.
The LMU NTT faculty members — all members of SEIU 721 — serve in the university’s Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, the College of Communication and Fine Arts, and the School of Film and Television.
“LMU must start respecting union NTT faculty at the bargaining table and stop with the games,” said SEIU 721 Vice President Simboa Wright. “LMU NTT faculty deserve a fair contract with living wages and better working conditions and we support them in their fight.”
Occidental College Professional and Administrative Staff Ratify Reopener Win
The results are in!
We overwhelmingly voted to ratify our Wage Reopener Tentative Agreement.
We’ve locked in across-the-board wage increases to keep up with LA’s high cost of living.
Here’s What We Won:
After the first pay period upon ratification, the employees’ base rate of compensation shall be increased by 3.25% or any increase that is provided by the College to all (across the board) non-bargaining unit employees employed by the College in 2025.
As of the first pay period following July 1, 2026, the employees’ base rate of compensation shall be increased by the greater of 2.5% or any across the board percentage increase that is provided by the College to all non-bargaining unit employees employed by the College.
Thanks to your organization, dedication, and tenacity, we accomplished this win.
As always, when we fight — we win.
SEIU 721 Retirees Stay Active And Healthy
SEIU 721 retirees are not just retired and active, they’re also healthy! The Retiree Committee held its 2nd Annual Health Fair on August 12 and it featured a number of services such as blood pressure checks, A1-C monitoring, CPR training and information about various resources for seniors. The fair was open to all retirees and was an opportunity for participants to get health updates as well as to connect and learn useful skills. Kudos to 721 Retirees for putting on another successful event!
The County of Ventura bargaining team went to the negotiating table with management where we delivered our initial proposals. Our next session will be on September 3rd and where we expect management to start responding to our proposals.
The campaign has seen an historic amount of participation through Contract Action Team (CAT) meetings, survey submissions, bargaining petition submissions, and workplace actions. We also expanded the bargaining team to ensure more members are represented and have a voice.
We’re fighting for a contract that lifts up all members, families, and our communities.
Our members need wage increases so they can afford to live in the communities we serve.
Women’s Caucus is Stepping Up to Fight Breast Cancer
Why It Matters
By joining these walks, the SEIU 721 Women’s Caucus rallies members to support research and care for breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke, demonstrating SEIU 721’s dedication to community health and empowerment.
The SEIU 721 Women’s Caucus is stepping up to fight breast cancer and support life-saving care and research by participating in two major upcoming charity walks this fall.
The first Women’s Caucus team will join the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on October 18, 2025, at the Citadel in Commerce, to support breakthrough breast cancer research and services. SEIU 721 members are encouraged to donate using the QR codes provided.
The second team will join the American Heart Association’s 2025 Greater Los Angeles Heart & Stroke Walk at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Team “XOXO-SEIU721” will be raising awareness and funds to support critical heart and stroke research and care.
Both events exemplify SEIU 721’s commitment to supporting health initiatives that make a difference for families across Los Angeles.
Inland Region Ratification Spree Continues
SEIU 721 members in the Inland Region continued the region’s hot summer of union wins with more strong contract ratifications.
On top of recent ratifications by Riverside County Law Library, Lake Hemet Municipal Water District, and County of Riverside Per Diem Unit, members in the City of Riverside and City of San Jacinto ratified new contracts in August.
City of Riverside members knew they were in for a fight and flexed their union muscle for months. With rallies at City Hall, a successful strike authorization vote and weeks of practice picketing, they refused to be treated as second-class workers and won across-the-board raises, increased benefits and wage increases that bring all unit members in line with Tier I employees over the life of the contract.
This win for members in one of the region’s biggest employers was only possible through years of building our strength at our worksites and political power at the ballot box.
SEIU 721 Celebrates Labor Day 2025
SEIU 721 Chief of Staff Gilda Valdez
Our Union
LA County SEIU 721 members flexed their union power. Now it’s time to lock in our wins.
We showed LA County what happens when working people flex their union power. On every picket line, at every rally, at every late-night bargaining session — SEIU 721 members locked arms and refused to be pushed aside.We fought for better pay, secure benefits, and respect on the job.When we fight as one, we win as one.
Our unity generated real results: a $5,000 ratification bonus, cost-of-living increases, and raises to help us keep up as prices soar. We pushed through hard times and came out stronger because we stuck together, loud and proud. This is what union power looks like.
Now, it’s time to lock in our wins. The LA County Bargaining Policy Committee strongly recommends a YES vote on the Tentative Agreement. We can’t afford to let anyone roll back what we fought so hard for.
We’re not done yet. This contract is proof of what we can do, but it’s also a promise to keep pushing for more. When we’re united, there’s nothing we can’t do. Thanks for fighting, for caring, and for never giving up. This is our win — let’s make it stick.
