April 01--Angered by stalled contract negotiations, 10,000 city workers represented by the Service Employees International Union are voting on whether to strike, a move that could potentially paralyze basic city services such as garbage collection, sewer maintenance and transportation.
The strike vote is described in a leaflet, obtained by the Los Angeles Times, that is now being distributed to SEIU workers at city job sites. It states that union leadership "recommends a strike vote because of the lack of movement by the city at the bargaining table."
SEIU spokeswoman Coral Itzcalli confirmed that the union has authorized a strike vote but would not comment on when and how the vote would take place.
"They're extremely frustrated," Itzcalli said of union negotiators. "To date, L.A. city officials have failed to present an acceptable proposal."
It is unclear whether other workers represented by the Coalition of L.A. City Unions -- an umbrella labor organization that includes and typically acts in concert with the SEIU -- also will vote on a strike. If so, that would raise the number of public employees who could potentially go on strike to 20,000, or more than half the city's civilian workforce.
If a strike is approved, it would not necessarily mean employees would walk off the job, though it could increase pressure on Mayor Eric Garcetti and other city leaders to reach a settlement.
The vote comes after almost a year of talks between the coalition and city officials. Sticking points have included the city's demands that coalition workers forgo raises for three years and contribute more to their health care premiums. Many coalition workers currently pay no premiums.
The coalition's last contract, secured in 2007 shortly before the Great Recession, included 24.5% pay increases over several years.
