LOS ANGELES (AP) - More than 50,000 Los Angeles County workers demanding higher pay were on strike again Tuesday, and the walkout caused closures or disruptions at libraries, healthcare clinics and administrative offices across the nation’s most populous county.
The two-day walkout followed failed negotiations with the county for a new contract after the last one expired in March, according to the Service Employees International Union Local 721.
The union represents employees including public health professionals, social workers, parks and recreation staff, custodians, clerical workers and others serving a county of 10 million residents. It will be the first time all of its about 55,000 members go on strike, the union said.
“This is the workforce that got LA county through emergency after emergency: the January wildfires, public health emergencies, mental health emergencies, social service emergencies and more,” the union leader, David Green, said in a statement. “That’s why we have had it with the labor law violations and demand respect for our workers.”
The labor action is set to last until 7pm on Wednesday. During this time, libraries, some healthcare clinics, beach bathrooms and public service counters at the hall of administration are expected to be closed. Some other services in the medical examiner’s office and public works department may also be affected, according to the county.
The union has accused the county of 44 labor law violations during contract negotiations, including surveillance and retaliation against workers engaging in union activity and contracting out positions represented by the union.
LA county says it is facing “unprecedented stresses” on its budget, including a tentative $4bn settlement of thousands of childhood sexual assault claims, a projected $2bn in impacts related to the LA wildfires in January, and the potential loss of hundreds of millions in federal funding.