LOS ANGELES — Services could be cut for Los Angeles County residents in coming years, officials said, as part of a tentative agreement the county reached with its largest union, ending months of labor disputes that affected millions of residents.
“LA County recognizes the vital role of our workforce in serving the millions of residents who depend on us,” county officials said in a statement announcing the agreement.
However, county officials also said that funding the agreement would require cuts for program services in Los Angeles county, citing budget pressures from wildfire recovery costs, legal settlements and potential federal funding reductions.
The deal with Service Employees International Union Local 721 covers more than half the county’s workforce through June 2028, pending ratification by union members. Workers operate county hospitals, social services offices, parks and other essential services.
The tentative deal follows a two-day strike that SEIU 721 described as sending “shockwaves throughout Southern California.” Union workers also conducted practice pickets and civil disobedience at the Hall of Administration to pressure negotiations.
The three-year contract, pending ratification by union members, runs through June 30, 2028, and includes a $5,000 ratification bonus, a 2% cost-of-living adjustment plus $2,000 bonus in year two, and a 5% cost-of-living adjustment in the third year.
Officials cited “massive” costs from claims brought under AB 218, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims, along with impacts from January wildfires as major budget challenges.
“Funding this tentative labor agreement will require making budget cuts that will affect some programs,” officials said. “These sacrifices will be necessary to avoid a structural deficit as we move to provide fair compensation for our workforce in these difficult times.”
SEIU 721 has been in negotiations with the county for months during what officials described as unprecedented budget challenges. The union represents the county’s largest workforce across essential services.
If ratified, the agreement would provide financial relief to workers who continued providing services throughout the pandemic and recent wildfire emergencies. The ratification timeline and voting details were not immediately available.
“We are proud of our long-term partnership with labor and grateful for all of the hard work on both sides of the table,” county officials said, expressing hope that union members will approve the agreement.
The labor tensions highlight the challenge facing local governments nationwide as they balance worker demands with tight budgets and growing service needs. LA County serves nearly 10 million residents across areas from downtown Los Angeles to rural communities in the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys.
County services affected by the earlier strike included health clinics, family services offices and park maintenance. Any future work stoppages could disrupt hospitals, child protective services and other critical programs residents depend on daily.
The union must still vote to ratify the agreement, though no timeline has been announced. If approved, the deal takes effect July 1.
