AFSCME Joins with Other City of LA Unions to Oppose Threatened Layoffs
Immediate Steps
Because every LA city worker performs a service for city residents, "We need to first exhaust every possibility to maintain city services before taking the drastic step of laying off city employees," says Alice Goff, President of AFSCME Local 3090 representing Administrative Aides and Council 36.
Union members and leadership are doing everything in their power to prevent layoffs of AFSCME members and cuts to the services we proudly provide to city residents:
1. The Coalition of LA City Unions, which includes AFSCME District Council 36, is meeting in the next few days with the CAO's office (Chief Administrative Officer) to determine the impact of the Mayor's budget on Coalition union members and to protect our members from the impacts of these proposals and to protect the services we provide.
2. The Coalition continues to gather ideas from city workers for increasing revenue, saving money and increasing the efficiency of city services, which will all be presented to the City Council for their consideration during their hearings on the budget. Visit http://www.lacitycoalition.com/budget.html to contribute your idea.
3. The Mayor's budget is only a draft, which will go through many changes before it's finalized. It's still early in that process and nothing at this point is set in stone. AFSCME and the Coalition will be present and vocal at every step of the process.
Visit the Coalition's web site at www.lacitycoalition.com for news. Click on the Budget tab to contribute your ideas for increasing revenue, saving money and increasing the efficiency of how we deliver services.
Below is the press statement sent out by the Coalition earlier today, which includes the words of Roy Stone, president of AFSCME Local 2626, the Librarian’s Guild
Press Release
Media Contact: Barbara Maynard or Dan Braun April 21, 2008
For Immediate Release
”City workers understand the nature of the budget problem, not only as front-line service providers, but as Los Angeles residents and taxpayers ourselves,” explained Bob Schoonover, a Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic with the City and the elected President of SEIU Local 721.
”The challenges facing the City are not unique to Los Angeles. They are the result of the same economic ordeal impacting cities, states, businesses, and families across the country.
”Despite the difficulties, we are committed to continuing to provide quality services to people of Los Angeles.”
Members of the Coalition of LA City Unions represent workers who provide a wide range of services from answering 911 calls to repairing potholes to running gang prevention programs.
Roy Stone, a Librarian with the City and President of the Librarian’s Guild, emphasized the Coalition’s desire to avert layoffs. “Every City worker represents a City service. Librarians in every community are necessary to continue the programs that keep children off the streets and provide education and opportunity for residents.
“Layoffs are not in anyone's interest. They're bad for residents who need the services we provide and they're bad for communities who depend on good, family-sustaining jobs. The last thing we want is to put the youngest workers with families out of a job in an economy like this. We will continue to work with the Mayor and City Council to avoid layoffs and maintain services, working towards the best solution for all Angelenos.”
Workers across the City are drawing on their on-the-ground experience to generate ideas to address the budget problem. In a situation like this, it is imperative to look in every corner of City work and leave no stone unturned for ways to reduce costs and generate revenue.
“There is no way we can accept layoffs and the accompanying service cuts until the City has taken a serious look at every idea on the table,” said Schoonover.
The Coalition of LA City Unions includes:
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 36
Los Angeles/Orange County Building & Construction Trades Council
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 501
Laborers International Union (LIUNA) Local 777
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721
Teamsters Local 911
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