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Guest Column A Message from LIUNA VP/Regional Manager Rocco Davis |
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I want
you to know how concerned our entire union is about the ballot measure
this November 5, that calls for the tearing apart of the City of Los Angeles
and replacing it with three different cities. Currently, the great City of Los Angeles, the second largest city in the nation with a population of 3.7 million, is the west coast anchor for art, entertainment, culture, business, and diversity. If Secession happens, the City of Angels would lose 43% of its population and be relegated to second-class status, losing significant income, and threatening the job security of its 45,000 City employees. |
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of City Jobs Public employees will be the first casualties of Secession. To begin with, funding for 10,672 jobs will disappear overnight from the City of Los Angeles. A new City in the San Fernando Valley is expected to use its funding to contract —yes, that means privatize —for city services. Secession Leaders Are Vehemently Anti-Labor In a recent editorial, the Los Angeles Daily News stated that “Labor rightly fears that things would be different in the Valley if secession passes,” and secession leader Shirley Svorny was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying that she and others want to secede because large cities are “more fertile ground for unions.” No Real Independence Proponents argue that secession would strengthen area(s) that have been neglected. To the contrary, an independent San Fernando Valley, now part of the second largest city in the Country, would be ranked with smaller cities, resulting in a weakened voice in Sacramento and D.C. State and Federal funding now received by the Valley as part of L.A. would go to larger, more powerful cities such as Chicago and Philadelphia. Instead of creating the “independent” city now touted by secessionists, the Valley would continue to rely on the City of Los Angeles for virtually all municipal services, including water, power, and sewage service. The Bottom Line The City of Los Angeles has problems, but the solutions lie in a more unified voice and community, not a fragmented and divided one. In the last few years, by developing a stronger, more unified labor movement, and cultivating key relationships, we have had success with the adoption of living wage laws, Project Labor Agreements and better contracts. These changes have brought about real improvements in the quality of life for many working families, resulting in more resources and improved city services. Secession would only undermine all of these advances. Your involvement will really make a difference... I urge you to call Local 777’s Government and Public Affairs Director Victor Gordo at: 213.380.6678 and let him know you want to do whatever you can to help. Together we can make a difference. |
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Termination Rescinded! |
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Senior
Special Officer Victor Dial was wrongfully terminated on June 21, 2001
by the General Services Police in the City of Los Angeles. Dial, who has
been an active Union leader, quickly called the Union for representation
and a hearing was scheduled for December 6, 2001. As a result of the evidence presented in the hearing, the Examiner ruled in favor of Victor, vindicating him of each of the City’s allegations. As a result Victor will be reinstated to his position and made very, very whole for his losses, when you include the recently negotiated salary increases with our new MOU! |
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