AFSCME 3090

Fight Back for City Services We Deserve

Mer. 3, 2010

As we informed you in a recent email message, the Coalition of Los Angeles City Unions, which Local 3090 is part of, is taking a multi-pronged approach to fighting back against the massive layoffs proposed by the City Council and the Mayor.

When Standard & Poor downgraded the City’s credit rating recently, Councilman Richard Alarcon noted, “These are the same people who gave Lehman Brothers a good rating just before they went under.” He was pointing out that these agencies may be as clueless as Councilman Ed Reyes is for proposing these 4,000 layoffs. Along with several Councilmembers, we question how this number was reached. It is arbitrary and desperate, with the City again trying to have the workers bear the brunt of their mismanagement.

To put it into perspective, the City’s general fund budget is approximately $4 billion dollars, and there is a projected $485 million deficit. The value of 4,000 layoffs is approximately $300 million.

But the other costs not being spoken about are the services that will be lost. The proposed cuts are direct service positions like library staff, childcare, recreation and senior programs in the parks, museum and educational programs at El Pueblo Historical Monument, support staff providing customer service on the telephone or in person at the various counters, street services, tree trimming; a decrease in service in every single City department.

But we are not taking any of this lying down. Our lawyers are fully engaged to ensure that our contract is not violated, and that the City fully implements the millions of dollars of savings you sacrificed to create in order to do our part. There is no doubt that we are in a fight not only for us, but for the kind of City and services that we as union members and taxpayers deserve and want.

We know this is a hard fight. You will be asked to give of your time and energy if we are to be successful. There is strength in numbers and we will send a powerful message when you come out to march, rally or participate in any of our upcoming activities.

We want to gather your stories about how the City and you and your family would be impacted if further layoffs or cuts happen in a random or haphazard manner. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and what you do for the City. Not only must we continue to educate the City Council, but the public needs to know the valuable services you provide to residents day in and day out. Additionally, if you have suggestions for actions, like the candlelight vigil last Friday at the Mayor’s mansion, please let us know.

Please look for notices and flyers of future mobilizations planned by the Coalition as well as the results of our ongoing efforts on your behalf.

Yours in the struggle,
Alice Goff,
President AFSCME Local 3090