Mayor Karen Bass vowed “the city of Los Angeles is not going to shut down” as 11,000-plus city workers launched a one-day walkout on Tuesday, Aug. 8.
The workers’ union lashed out at what it branded “bad-faith” contract negotiations from city representatives.
Angelenos are expected to be hit with service disruptions, from trash-pickup delays to swimming-pool closures to shutdowns at animal shelters. Libraries, however, were expected to remain open.
The strike is the latest jolt for a city already grappling with a homeless emergency and affordable housing crisis, corruptions scandals old and new and myriad other issues.
“My office is implementing a plan ensuring no public safety or housing and homelessness emergency operations are impacted by this action,” Bass said in a statement Monday.
“Like I said over the weekend, the city will always be available to make progress with SEIU 721 and we will continue bargaining in good faith.”
The walkout is not expected to last more than a day and union officials hoped the action would result in a new contract.
A similar strategy worked for L.A. Unified School District contract workers in March. Service Employees International Union Local 99, which represents service workers, staged a three-day strike for custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, special education assistants and others. United Teachers Los Angeles members walked out in solidarity, shutting down district classrooms and schools.
The district subsequent arrived at contract for the workers and later followed with a deal for teachers. Reaching the agreement with UTLA was pivotal, eliminating the possibility of another potential work stoppage by teachers.
On Monday, City Council President Paul Krekorian issued a statement saying, “We regret this inconvenience, but we can assure you that the city is continuing to negotiate with its unions.”
Krekorian said city-operated preschools and daycare centers will be open as usual Tuesday,…
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