LA County workers’ union sets strike for Oct. 10, while county calls it ‘unwarranted’

A union representing 55,000 Los Angeles County workers announced on Tuesday, Sept. 24 that it has authorized a strike set for Oct. 10, unless county management comes back to the negotiating table.

About 1,000 members of the SEIU 721 union came to the Board of Supervisors meeting to inform the county of its decision.

Workers that would be affected by a strike are from numerous county departments, including: Children & Family Services, Mental Health, Public Health, Public Social Services, Parks & Recreation, Beaches & Harbors, LA County Library, Clerk/Registrar-Recorder, County Coroner and Unincorporated Street Services.

If a strike were to occur, it would be the first strike of all SEIU 721 bargaining units in L.A. County history. In October 2023, social workers demonstrated for more staff and lowered caseloads. 

The union contends the county is violating terms of its 2022 contract by conducting surveillance on union stewards and by contracting out to fill empty positions, instead of hiring full-fledged county employees.

“We are telling the county they need to come back to the table and stop disrespecting us,” said David Green, SEIU 721 president. Green has been a children’s social worker for more than two decades.

In a written response to the union’s remarks, county officials said they looked forward to more “robust and productive bargaining sessions,” noting heavy demands on public resources.

“The county is not yet at the bargaining table with SEIU 721, and we are disappointed that labor has chosen to preemptively and unnecessarily engage in heated rhetoric, including unfounded accusations and threats of an unwarranted strike that would put our most vulnerable county residents at risk.”

The SEIU 721 union has filed 21 unfair labor practices grievances.

Green said the union is particularly concerned with the Department of Mental Health filling 54% of vacancies with contract employees. “People who are contracted out don’t have the training, the background or the experience as union members,” he said. “They should not be filled with contract positions.”

The department has been trying to ramp up hiring to deploy more mental health workers to increase the number of  outreach teams that attend to homeless individuals with mental health challenges.

Green said 99% of the union members voted to authorize a strike. “We sent a message today to come back to the table and stop the union busting,” he said.

The county’s response concluded: “We are open to hearing the union’s proposals and will continue to approach this process professionally and in good faith.”