U.S. Bureau of Labor Set to Announce March Inflation Numbers, Expected to Exceed 8% for the First Time in over 40 Years.
LA County Union Workers, Preparing to Strike, to Gather at DTLA Gas Station to Renew Call for Cost-Of-Living Increases
With the National Inflation Rate Continuing to Climb After Reaching 40-Year High of 7.9% in February, LA County Frontline Employees Say Board of Supervisors Must Keep Up with the Times Given Inflation Highs; Action Comes Days After 55,000 SEIU 721 County Workers Announced Strike Vote Countdown
LOS ANGELES – Frontline workers from various public sector unions throughout LA County will demand cost-of-living increases to fight inflation as they gather for a press conference tomorrow at 10 AM at a Shell gas station in downtown LA. The U.S. Labor Dept. is set to announce the March inflation rate on Tuesday, after inflation already reached a 40-year high of 7.9% in February. Forecasters are expecting the inflate rate to break the 8% level.
Fifteen unions representing over 85,000 workers currently in negotiations with L.A. County have made plain that the rising cost of living is a major bargaining point. These unions include:
- American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Council 36
- AFSCME Local 685 – L.A. County Probation Officers’ Union
- Association of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA)
- Association for L.A. Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS)
- Association of Public Defender Investigators
- California Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)
- Committee of Interns and Residents, SEIU Local 1957
- International Union of Operating Engineers Local 501
- A./Orange Counties Building Trades Council
- A. County Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 1014
- A. County Lifeguard Association
- A. County Public Defenders Union Local 148
- Professional Peace Officers Association, MEBA
- SEIU Local 721
- Teamsters Local 911
- Union of American Physicians & Dentists, AFSCME
At a march and rally last week, members of the largest union – SEIU Local 721 – announced an impending strike vote in the coming weeks.
“The Board of Supervisors needs to keep up with the times, and right now, inflation is the number one issue facing the LA County workforce,” said David Green, President of SEIU 721. “The heroes who got everyone through COVID deserve a solid paycheck, not to be living paycheck to paycheck.”
- WHO: Los Angeles County Unions United, including SEIU 721
- WHAT: Press Conference Where Union Workers Will Demand Cost-of-Living Increase to Fight Inflation
- WHEN: Tues., Apr. 11, 2022 at 10 AM
- WHERE: Shell gas station, 900 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Press conference will be at a Shell gas station (at the corner of Hill St. and College St. in downtown LA) where gasoline is currently selling for nearly $7 per gallon.
- VISUALS: “MORE COMPENSATION TO FIGHT INFLATION” placards held by LA County frontline workers representing public safety, healthcare, social services, mental health, parks and rec, clerical services, street services and more. They will be available for interviews. Media Q&A will follow the press conference.
BACKGROUND: Tuesday’s press conference will follow last Thursday’s “Fight for the Frontline” march and rally, which stopped traffic through downtown Los Angeles and was eagerly attended by thousands of Los Angeles County workers. As their midnight contract expiration date loomed, LA County’s frontline workforce took to the streets to ensure that their key contract bargaining demands were met.
The fight against inflation is proving to be a major sticking point as the price of everything from rent to a bag of groceries to a gallon of gasoline skyrockets – and there’s no end in sight, particularly in light of the U.S. Labor Dept.’s latest inflation numbers.
SEIU 721 members are preparing to hold a strike vote beginning next week.
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Contact: Roxane Marquez, roxane.marquez@seiu721.org, (213) 705-1078
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