Spirits were high and the energy in the room was fully charged as hundreds of SEIU 721’s LA County members began the 2025 Contract Bargaining Kick-Off at the JW Marriott in downtown LA this past Saturday.
SEIU 721 Chief of Staff Gilda Valdez initiated the program by repeatedly chanting, “S-E-I-U!” as the massive crowed roared back, “7-2-1!” each time. The chant was followed by a quick verbal roll call revealing that nearly about every job classification was represented: Social Services, Health Workers, RNs, General Services, the Library, the Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures, the DA, Beaches & Harbors, Child Support Services, Parks & Rec, Public Works, ISD and even Military & Veterans Affairs.
“Throughout today’s program I want you to remember one thing, and this is very important to understand: We are in very good hands,” Valdez said. “We have strong, experienced leadership and that starts straight from the top of our union and that starts straight from the top with our president David Green. No matter how big the fight or how small, David Green always has our backs.”
After being welcomed with very enthusiastic applause, SEIU 721 Executive Director and President David Green spoke.
“I hope you know from the bottom of my heart that I’m fiercely protective of every single person in this room,” Green said. “I’m incredibly proud of my union but I’ve got a confession to make: Lately, I’m a little pissed off. It’s OK to be angry. But I want you to hear me say a couple things loud & clear. The days of shitty contracts in LA County are over! The days of bully bosses in LA County are over!”
The huge crowd of attendees responded with an incredible roar of approval.
“Another confession for my 721 family: I lost some sleep over this,” Green continued. “But I had to take a step back. And I said, “I’m an organizer. When management screws up, it’s a gift to us.” These are the same folks, these out of touch administrators and bully bosses, these are all the same folks who want you to suffer in silence. These are the same folks that want all of you to be afraid. Anybody knows what happens when we get into fights? We win! We are a badass 55,000 member LA County army!”
The enthusiasm in the room was electrifying as Green concluded his remarks and Raymond Meza, SEIU 721 Deputy Chief of Staff, took the stage.
“This is a packed house!” Meza remarked before giving the audience a quick refresher on how we got to this point – starting with our union’s contract bargaining history specifically with LA County.
Meza explained the significance of moving the contract expiration date from September to March by noting that, “The March date was critically important because for the first time in 53 years, we got to be in our rightful place – the biggest union in LA County. That’s why in the last contract we were able to negotiate the largest increase LA County has ever seen.”
Meza then explained why our union moved up the timeline for bargaining the upcoming contract as audience members listened attentively.
“November 15 to December 15 would be the bargaining earliest start and end date,” he said. “Does this timeline work for you?”
“NO!” the audience responded loudly and spontaneously.
“Well, let me tell you: It works for LA County,” Meza continued. “We’ll have one, two, maybe three bargaining sessions and then leave all the important issues to be bargained in the three months before the contract expires. Are you going to let this happen?”
“NO!” attendees responded yet again, with several audience members responding, “HELL NO!”
“So, we are going to bargain in October,” Meza said. “And that’s why you are here today in July for a contract that expires in March. Today, we kick off the contract campaign. Today, we set the field on fire. Today, we put LA County on notice!”
Meza was followed by Eloy Alvarez, SEIU 721’s Inland Area Regional Director, who has experience fighting the contracting-out trend in Riverside County. He gave the audience a crash course on just how prevalent contracting out good union jobs has become at LA County.
“LA County spent 17% of its total budget on contractors,” Alvarez said. “This is – make no mistake – another form of union busting.”
Alvarez displayed several massive graphs detailing the top departments guilty of contracting out good union jobs. Very few departments got off Scott free – but top offenders included the Department of Mental Health (which contracted out 54% of its work in Fiscal Year 2024), the Department of Public Health (which contracted out 37%), the Internal Services Department (which contracted out 19%), and the Department of Health Services (which contracted out 15%).
Alvarez then detailed the job vacancy rate throughout various LA County departments, noting that the total job vacancy rate as of May 2024 was 12,033 jobs. Most departments were guilty of contracting out jobs – but the worst culprits were the Department of Health Services (with 4,483 vacancies as of May 2024) followed by the Department of Mental Health (with 1,090 vacancies), the Department of Children & Family Services (with 1,049 vacancies) and the Department of Public Health (with 943 vacancies).
Alvarez then highlighted just how large medical premium increases had become. No matter which healthcare plan members chose, premium increases were up – and cash back was down.
“Do you want these healthcare costs to eat away at your paycheck?” Alvarez asked aloud.
“NO!” the audience responded in unison.
“Then we’ve got to get ahead of these healthcare costs,” Alvarez concluded.
Alvarez was followed by Steve Koffroth, SEIU 721’s Director of Collective Bargaining and Research. Koffroth was the Chief Negotiator for the last City of Los Angeles contract, where members there received the largest pay increases in their history – a fact appreciated by SEIU 721 Vice President Simboa Wright, who was in attendance at the LA County 2025 Contract Bargaining Kick-Off on Saturday.
Koffroth detailed the shady tactics being used by LA County management to illegally delay implementing hard-fought wins in our latest contract – tactics that compelled our union to file 35 pages worth of Unfair Labor Practice charges against LA County on Friday.
“Because we had landed the single highest raise in the county’s history, we wanted to make sure that we got that in your pockets come October 1,” Koffroth explained. “We had a specific phrase in there that said, “We’ve got to come back.” So, in December, there was another county action. When you go to the actual document, it should have a listing of all the MOUs – all the provisions that were agreed to. Instead, it says “If you want to know all of the provisions in our agreement, call Monica Johnson.” I just want to tell you that that is so, so odd – perhaps even a violation of Brown Act. That is unacceptable!”
After Koffroth’s presentation and a quick break, attendees got back to business.
Raymond Meza took the stage again, recognizing the attendees who had run for Bargaining Team positions. Afterward, everyone participated in role playing sessions where they focused on how they would present the information they’d just learned to their co-workers back at their respective worksites – with David Green and Raymond Meza first demonstrating to everyone exactly how it could be done.
Finally, Gilda Valdez made rousing closing remarks that got everyone on their feet.
“LA County has not honored our contract – and, because of that, we have filed a ULP charge,” Valdez said. “Because of that, we have authorized a strike vote. This coming Monday, the Bargaining Team vote count will happen at the union hall. It is very possible that, during the time that they are taking this strike authorization vote, LA County might come and want to resolve things. And in the end, that is what we want. But we are going to do what we have to do to escalate and let them know we’re done playing games. We need you all to be working closely with the worksite organizers at your facilities. It’s the first time in the history of LA County bargaining that we are doing this. If they don’t resolve our issues, we’re going to start bargaining by striking first!”
She then took a voice vote for a strike authorization vote – and the response was an overwhelming, “YES!” as the audience reacted with thunderous applause.
The event then concluded similarly to how it began. One side of the packed room chanted, “S-E-I-U!” as the other side responded with, “7-2-1!” over and over again as an undeniable excitement and raucous energy grew to a crescendo. It is this spirit that attendees undoubtedly will harness as they take action to secure a strong contract for all LA County members in 2025.
To view more images of Saturday’s kick-off event, click here to see them on Flickr. You can also see more pictures (and video!) on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, YouTube and TikTok feeds on social media.
Together, we win!
