Halting essential services while demanding more taxpayer money, liberal LA County faces a massive shutdown as 50,000 workers walk off their jobs.
Despite crippling budget deficits from wildfire damage and legal settlements, union bosses insist on pay hikes that would further strain the system and potentially lead to massive layoffs.
The financially struggling Los Angeles County came to a grinding halt as over 50,000 county workers launched a two-day strike, closing libraries and disrupting numerous public services.
This marks the first time all members of Service Employees International Union Local 721, which represents 55,000 workers, have abandoned their posts at the same time.
The timing could not be worse for the Democrat-run county, which already faces staggering financial challenges.
These include a $4 billion settlement for childhood sexual assault claims and a $2 billion impact from January wildfires.
Still, union leaders are pushing for more compensation while accusing the county of 44 labor law violations, including surveillance and retaliation against union activities.
The mass walkout has left beach bathrooms closed, healthcare clinics understaffed, and countless administrative functions paralyzed across America’s most populous county.
More than 150 county workers picketed outside the Los Angeles General Medical Center, turning their backs on patients and communities that depend on these essential services.
“It’s so unfair to us, it’s so unfair to our patients, and to our clients and our community,” said hospital worker Lillian Cabral, seemingly unconcerned about the impact on the community she claims to serve.
County officials are struggling to balance the demands of union bosses with fiscal reality and the needs of taxpayers.
“We do not want to negotiate ourselves into a structural deficit, which could lead to layoffs and service reductions,” explained spokeswoman Elizabeth Marcellino.
She highlighted the financial tightrope the county is walking while union leaders push for unsustainable compensation packages.
The broader picture in Los Angeles is equally troubling. The city itself faces a nearly $1 billion deficit and has proposed laying off 1,600 people in its latest budget.
Yet instead of working with officials to find sustainable solutions, union leaders have chosen to shut down essential services, leaving Californians to suffer the consequences.
“This is the workforce that got LA County through emergency after emergency: the January wildfires, public health emergencies, mental health emergencies, social service emergencies and more,” claimed union leader David Green.
The strike follows the expiration of the previous contract in March.
While union representatives demand increased compensation, county officials point to the harsh fiscal realities that could force service cuts and layoffs if spending increases too dramatically.
This standoff represents yet another example of unions flexing their political muscle at the expense of taxpayers already burdened by California’s high cost of living and excessive taxation.
