The LA County Board of Supervisors got an early AM visit yesterday from Santa Claus – along with scores of our SEIU 721 members, who made their way down Temple Street to deliver a special message in holiday lights demanding care, dignity and respect for frontline workers.
“When the pandemic first hit LA County, our union members stood strong amidst unprecedented professional challenges,” said SEIU 721 President David Green, who made sure Santa Claus had in-person representation during yesterday morning’s holiday action. “Yet too often, we were taken for granted. Our wish is for the Board of Supervisors to supply essential workers with the tools we need to succeed so that we can supply the public with the level of services that they are counting on now more than ever.”
Santa’s sleigh brought five Christmas trees – one for each of the five members of the Board of Supervisors.
The trees were decorated with ornaments containing written messages from our union members describing how they hope the Supervisors will approach the ongoing COVID pandemic with a stronger sense of urgency and compassion.
“This pandemic is not over with, and LA County’s healthcare workers are preparing for a winter COVID surge,” said Ileana Meza, a Registered Nurse Practitioner at the LAC+USC Medical Center and Chair of the SEIU 721 Bargaining Policy Committee. “Everyone from nurses to receptionists to custodians are already reporting big workload increases as demand for our services grows. The Supervisors need to know. We must keep essential frontline workers from burning out so we can keep public health protected.”
It was particularly vital to deliver the message yesterday morning since that is when the Board of Supervisors held their last meeting of the calendar year – but the Omnicron variant is already affecting the residents of LA County’s 4,735-square-mile service area and the thousands of employees who provide public services to them.
“Without essential public workers, this massive metropolis could not function,” said Ron Herrera, President of the LA County Federation of Labor. “And while this Board of Supervisors will be home for Christmas, we ask that they remember the essential workers who keep LA County’s nearly 11 million residents safe and sound now, throughout the holiday season and into the New Year.”
It is we, the members of SEIU 721, who are keeping everything functional for the people of LA County and we were delighted to join Santa Claus through our union to make that sentiment crystal clear to the Board of Supervisors!
Now, it’s time for you to make your feelings known to our union. Time is running out complete your 2022 LA County bargaining survey. CLICK HERE to fill out your bargaining survey and help us set our priorities for next year’s negotiations.
We’re getting ready to win big in 2022 — so make sure your voice is heard.
Let’s prepare now during the holidays to secure a solid contract in the new year. We all want a future that will look a lot like our action yesterday at the Hall of Administration … very merry and bright!