LOS ANGELES – Six AFSCME unions representing more than 10,000 Los Angeles City employees have ratified new union contracts with robust wage increases and other benefits.
AFSCME Locals 741, 901, 2006, 2626, 3090 and 3672 began negotiating with the city in August 2023 as a part of the Coalition of Los Angeles City Unions, which negotiates benefits for all LA City employees represented by AFSCME, SEIU, Teamsters, LiUNA, LA/OC Building Trades and IUOE. Union members ratified the tentative agreements in March.
Coalition members negotiated a 22% cost of living adjustment (COLA) over the life of the contract, which will take effect immediately once the Los Angeles City Council signs off as expected. The five-year contract would be retroactive to 2023.
The contract would also allow members to cash out all of their unused sick time from their 100% sick time bank when they retire and hike the minimum pay of employees to $25 per hour by 2026. Covered workers would also receive 12 weeks of parental leave. Additionally, their unused personal leave will be cashed out at the end of each calendar year.
“I have been with the city for 20 years, and never have I had a contract of this magnitude,” said Larry Gates, president of AFSCME Local 3090 (Council 36). “In speaking with my members, almost all are overwhelmingly excited and grateful for the hard work and dedication of the negotiations committee.”
A massive show of union strength and solidarity was the driving force behind securing a strong contract. The Coalition of Los Angeles City Unions held more than a dozen rallies at worksites around the city and held a simultaneous strike authorization vote. These actions caught the attention of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who stepped in and made sure the city negotiated a fair contract.
“Mayor Karen Bass knew how crucial it was that negotiations wrapped up quickly. And after we spent hours and hours and hours in discussions with the City Administrative Office, there was a roar of applause and cheers when the TA was reached,” said Jonathan Diaz, president of AFSCME Local 741. “It was 2 a.m. and the room felt like it was a combination of happiness, pride and especially relief that we were able to reach an agreement so close to our contract expiring. Our hard work had paid off, a city-wide strike would be averted, and our members would have huge gains.”