List of Demands
Nearly 1,000 union leaders and activists packed into Century Plaza in Century City to demonstrate that, indeed, there is still power in a union. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa showed up for the fist-pumping and slogan-shouting as the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Delegates’ Congress on Monday geared up for 2008. A record number of contracts await negotiators, with nearly 350,000 workers from more than 30 unions expected at various bargaining tables throughout the county.
“It’s like a shot in the arm for labor,” said Lee Wax, political director at L.A. County Deputy Probation Officers Union Local 685, who said the city’s position near the front of the national scene makes events like these especially important. “We’re probably the strongest as far as the country’s concerned … We’re the fullback of labor. We’re the ones that do the heavy lifting, and we’re very proud.”
Labor organizers announced “The Fight For Good Jobs” labor agenda, which included a call for a 28-mile “Hollywood to the Docks” march in the spring and encouraged unions to begin mobilizing for the election to replace Second District County Supervisor Yvonne Burke.
Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, rallied the forces and released a report trumpeting the economic role of unions in the county. “L.A. is the low wage capital of America,” said Durazo. “The fight for good jobs form the core of our power … Creating jobs isn’t the solution. The solution is creating good jobs.”
The Los Angeles County Fire Fighters are just one of the dozens of unions whose contracts are up this year, and this week’s event boosted their morale as they get set to hit the bargaining table at the end of 2008. “[The county] needs to be prepared to come to the table fairly and deal with us in good faith to settle these contracts, and I think they do know that and that they are watching carefully today,” said Dave Gillotte, president of the L.A. County Fire Fighters Local 1014. “They better be ready, because we’re going to be ready.”
The Writers Guild of America (WGA), which has been on strike since its contract expired at the end of October, showed up and looked to strengthen their ties with other unions throughout the county. “We’re really trying to forge much stronger relationships with all of the other unions,” said Erich Hoeber, a WGA member, touting the solidarity other unions have shown them as an important factor in their decision. “During the strike it’s been amazing. We’ve had tremendous support from all the other unions.”
Hoeber noted that events like these stiffened the morale of his union as they battle it out in their protracted negotiations. “We’re very strong and we’re very united … I’ve never seen the WGA like this before,” he said. “We’re going to win this, no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes.”
According to the summary of findings of the report on the economic impact of Los Angeles unions, conducted by the Economic Roundtable, union members make up roughly 15 percent of the county’s labor force. While the county’s formal labor market has been stagnant since 1990, union workers have been able to largely avoid many of the problems faced by non-union workers by earning an average of 27 percent more in the same occupations.
The stagnant economy and positive economic report on the unions had many conference participants eager to continue their unionization drives, which resulted in last year’s creation of L.A.’s first citywide Security Officers Union.
Supporting the election of a friendly county supervisor was also announced as the highest political priority at the conference, as Durazo and others frequently spoke about the paucity of loyal, pro-labor political friends.
“The election … is something that my union has personally been waiting for over 18 years,” said Gillotte. “It’s the number one issue on our agenda, and has been for quite some time. All the stars are in alignment.”
Delegates went on the record against the “Big 4 Indian Gambling Deals,” and in support of Proposition S, a telephone users tax that Los Angeles voters will decide in the February 5 primary election.
Published: 12/07/2007
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