“We are here. You hear us outside. We’re tired of the disrespect when it comes to bargaining,” said Simboa Wright, vice president of the union and a wastewater collection worker with more than 20 years of city service.
The plan, according to the leadership of the SEIU Local 721 union, to which the city’s service workers belong, is to picket and rally in front of City Hall and at the Los Angeles International Airport for one day in a bid to “shut down” Los Angeles and compel the city to address their concerns.
It was 4:30 a.m., but the hit sound of this hot summer echoed up and down the streets near City Hall: “On strike! Shut it down! L.A. is a union town!”
Picket lines went up before dawn at Los Angeles International Airport and other locations, and a large rally was held later in the morning downtown at City Hall. SEIU Local 721 said mechanics, engineers and airport custodians are among the more than 11,000 LA city workers who are striking.
Durante la huelga, se espera que participen más de 11,000 empleados de la ciudad, representados por el sindicato SEIU Local 721, entre ellos trabajadores de saneamiento, del Aeropuerto Internacional de Los Ángeles, jardineros, custodios, ingenieros y mecánicos pesados, entre otros.
“Every single one of our workers in the city is a front line public sector worker that’s out there serving the public every day,” David Green, president of SEIU Local 721, told CNN. “A lot of it goes unnoticed. But on Tuesday, we’re going to make sure everybody notices.”
The striking workers, including gardeners, custodians and lifeguards, are represented by SEIU Local 721.
Service Employees International Union Local 721, which represents 7,000 city workers, began the strike at 12:01 a.m. — the first major walkout by Los Angeles city government workers in decades.
More than 11,000 Los Angeles city workers are planning to strike on Tuesday, according to the union that represents many of the city’s public-sector staff.