Unpublished
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
Central Labor Council Meeting
April 2016
The meeting began with Rabbi Jonathan Klein delivering an invocation during which he described Passover as history's first recorded labor action.
New delegates from UAW, USEW, SEIU, Worker's United, IBT, AFSCME, CNA, Fighting Machinists, and United Scenic Artists were sworn in. The affiliation campaign to get more unions to join the County Fed is expanding. The Fed now represents 435,000 of the 800,000 union members in LA County. UTLA is being pursued. The LA Rams' 53 member union just joined. The Fed has just finished an audit for 2015. The auditors found the books to be accounted properly.
The state of California has passed a $15 minimum wage law phased in by 2022/2023. Los Angeles County- Comprehensive wage enforcement laws passed, making it easier for workers to seek and recover stolen wages. L.A. will pass a law tomorrow providing 6 sick days per year for ill workers. 60% of women in L.A. did not have access to sick leave and often lose jobs when they or their kids get sick.
There are Sanctioned worker strikes against Coca Cola, and AT&T.
SEIU/UHW has a tentative agreement with Kaiser. The nurses are still fighting short staffing, and trying to keep their pensions. The nurses will probably go on strike at Kaiser Sunset next week. CFA got a deal with CSU, a raise of 10.5% in wages over three years, so the community/state college professor strike is off. SAG/AFTRA got a settlement and IAM settled with Coca cola. Verizon is on strike, grocery workers are in negotiations, statewide janitorial contracts are being negotiated. AT&T is negotiating with CWA.
The County Fed is gathering signatures for the Build Better L.A. campaign, to put on the ballot an initiative to require developers to include more low income housing in their projects and to require builders to have union contracts that pay better wages and benefits before they are given approvals to build. They are looking for volunteers to help gather the signatures needed to save the $5-$7 it costs to hire people. Info: [email protected] or 213 381-5611
10 of 11 COPE endorsed candidates in the March elections were elected. One candidate won by 38 votes. One has a June runoff in Long Beach.
70% of the homeless simply cannot afford rent.
The County Fed has interviewed candidates for upcoming elections for Congress, State Senate, State Assembly, Municipalities, Judicial, and Supervisorial jobs and reviewed when possible their voting records on labor and labor issues. Those who they feel are friends of workers are given a COPE endorsement.
For the list of endorsed candidates go to http://launionaflcio.org/endorsement
"Fix It" is a movie about why we need a single payer health care system was discussed. Highlights were:
Taxpayers already pay for all the most expensive patients; private insurance covers mostly the healthy.
Our healthcare system is far more inefficient than any other country. Medicare's overhead is 3%, private insurance runs 15-20% overhead.
The current multiple payer systems drains the system of resources that could be used for treatment.
The average Doctor's office employs 3 people to get payments and authorizations from 20 different payment systems at $84,000 a year.
The average private insurer pays 20% more for same services than Medicare. Americans defer medical care due to cost, which kills estimated 84,000 people a year. There will be a free screening of the movie on Wednesday April 27, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Musicians Union Local 47 Theater, 817 Vine St, Hollywood CA 90038. Info: 800-745-3090
Kristin Griffin of Labor United says that the hotel workers encourage you to stay at union hotels on your vacation, and for your location. The LAX Renaissance workers are asking for union representation. Info at: www.fairhotel.org
Check the LA411 website for union made goods and services at www.Labor411.org
The United Farm Workers overtime bill is out of committee. The AG labor board says the 5,000 workers working for the peach company were illegally stopped from organizing. We are invited to their convention info: www.ufw.org
The Vergara vs. California lawsuit, which dealt with a child's right to education and to instruction by effective teachers, but was really an attempt to get rid of teacher tenure, was decided in favor of continuing the rights of teachers to have tenure on April 14th.
Labor studies classes on workplace safety, worker rights, collective
bargaining and union messaging etc. is available at L.A. Trade Tech College. Info at http:college.lattc.edu/laborcenter or (213) 763-7129.
****Events****
Thursday April 21, 9:00 am and 2:00pm:
Help is needed for Voter Registration of new Americans following their swearing in as Americans. This is taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center downtown. Call the County Fed to volunteer @ 213-381-5611. Snacks provided.
Saturday April 23 + 30, 8:30am -1:00 pm:
Community walks for affordable housing. Help get signatures for the ballot initiative. There will be training and food. Info: [email protected] or 213-381-5611.
Wednesday April 27, 6:30-8:30 pm:
Free movie screening of 'Fix It" Musicians Union Local 47 Theater 817 Vine St, Hollywood CA 90038. Info: 800-745-3090
Sunday May 1, 12 noon:
May Day march downtown, Olympic & Figueroa info: TINY.CC/MAYDAY2016 or 213-353-1784
Sunday May 1, 2pm-5 pm:
Safety Rights of Workers Seminar Local 80 Building 2520 Olive Ave, Burbank, CA.
Tuesday May 3, 5pm:
20th annual Miguel Contreras Dinner Cinco de mayo Dinner $100. Info: email [email protected]
Saturday May 14th:
The Letter Carrier Food Drive will be collecting food for local food banks. Please leave a bag of non-perishable, unexpired food on your porch or by your mailbox. www.stampyourgood.com for fresh food donations.
May 14- June 3:
Volunteers are needed to sort Food Drive donations for the two weeks in two shifts; 8am-noon and noon-4 pm, following the drive. To volunteer go to: www.laborcommunityservicesla.org or call Margarita Chavez at 213-985-1987. Sorting is at the ETI- Electrical Training Institute IBEW Local 11, 6023 S. Garfield Ave, Commerce CA 90040. Free parking and snacks provided. All help appreciated.
Thursday May 26th @7 am:
Giants of Justice breakfast. Honoring the port drivers for fighting misclassification of employees. http://www.cluejustice.org
June 7th:
CA Presidential Primary Day. VOTE!