Fight for City Services Continues

May 29, 2009

Mayor and Coalition Are Meeting Once Again; Council Passes Budget, but Work Remains

Representatives of the Mayor, CAO, and the Coalition are having productive talks once again in attempt to fashion a real LA Recovery Plan. We had been close to a deal in April, before the Mayor and other members of the EERC abruptly pulled all offers off the table.

The Coalition remains committed to a real recovery plan, centered on workers’ ideas and early retirements rather than layoffs and furlough pay cuts. We are still pushing for a solution that meets the full budget challenge that we face as a City.

Every Voice Counts – Spread the Word

Coalition leaders believe we can reach our goals, but your help is needed. City workers, family, friends, and neighbors should keep pushing the Mayor and Council members to stand up for real solutions rather than budget band-aids like furlough pay cuts.

Get everyone you know to call, e-mail, fax and write the Mayor.
26 days of furloughs are a 10% service cut to residents and a 10% pay cut to LA families. Both furloughs and layoffs will devastate whole communities and drive a stake through the heart of the local economy.

Tell the Mayor:
“It’s time to get real about an LA Recovery Plan based on early retirements that solves the full budget crisis, minimizes direct service cuts, and turns the local economy around at the same time. No more half measures and short-term band-aids. A 10% cut in the services I provide (or rely on) would mean…”
E-mail: angie.espinoza@lacity.org (Mayor’s Personal Assistant)
Phone: 213-978-0600
Address: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

What about furloughs?
This budget is not final. But it’s one step closer. The Mayor has ten days to veto anything in the budget; then it will go back to the Council.

What about furloughs?
Coalition unions’ lawyers filed a UERP (Unfair Employee Relations Practice) charge on May 13 to prevent the Mayor from imposing furloughs, demanding an expedited hearing. Coalition unions will use every legal means to prevent furloughs as they are an illegal change in wages, hours and working conditions.

What about layoffs?
The budget sent back to the Mayor includes hundreds of layoffs and allows for thousands more. Council members including Jose Huizar and Janice Hahn continue to publicly support early retirements over layoffs. Layoffs will contribute to the downward spiral of the local economy.

What else are Coalition workers doing to prevent service cuts, layoffs, furloughs and wage cuts?
• Coalition unions continue to work with City Council members to bring up to a billion dollars in federal stimulus to LA to save jobs and services.

• The Mayor asked wednesday’s Dog Team at the Omni Hotel for a flyer and told them, “We’re going to resolve this.” Contact jason.elias@seiu721.org to join the Dog Team and talk to the Mayor directly.

• The Dog Team also struck at the LA Marathon. Members of the Librarians Guild passed out flyers at the finish line and followed the Mayor’s SUV as he left, holding signs reading: “A Better Way for LA.”

• The Coalition flew a banner over the LA Marathon on Sunday that read: “LA City Workers: Proud to Keep LA Running.”

• Coalition members continue to reach out to allies in the local faith community.To get involved in this effort, contact james.johnson@seiu721.org.