CommentsMY THOUGHTS - I really look forward to the comments you make on my articles. One of my lifelong mantras has been, I do not have the market on good ideas.
I also believe that there are very few absolutes in this life. The article I wrote last month on “The Good Old Days Weren't So Good”” elicited some supportive comments and some criticisms.
One criticism in particular, gave me inspiration for todays “Thoughts”. It said : “re there were good times, you don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s only when the public unions took over control of the city and state of California became a complete cesspool. Why don’t you stop over analyzing and gaslighting and just get to the truth. The state and LA city are bankrupt because of the SEIU.” ( Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a labor union representing almost 1.9 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States and Canada.)
If we lived in a perfect world there wouldn’t be need for Unions. Employers would pay their employees a fair wage; employees would not try to game the system; working conditions would be pleasant; each person would be judged on the skills they brought to the job, without consideration of gender or race; government workers from all levels up to the current occupant in the White House would consider it a duty and privilege to make life better for his or her fellow Americans.
There was a time when being a public employee meant less money, but more security and benefits. Even today, Public professionals make significantly less money than those in the private sector.
This brings up the buzz word “income inequality”. I am going to make a statement that “everyone deserves to earn a living wage.” If you are working full time, you should be able to feed your family, afford a roof over your head, have decent medical care and live with less stress. You shouldn’t have to take a second job just to have those necessities. So those of you who don’t agree, can click off and go to another of CW’s articles more to your liking.
The minimum wage for workers in unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County will be $15.96 per hour beginning July 1, 2022, the County's Chief Executive Office (CEO) announced in March.
“This wage adjustment is in line with the spirit of the ordinance to ensure that wages keep pace with inflation and support a stable workforce,” said Rafael Carbajal, Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, which enforces the county’s minimum wage.
The ordinance applies to employees who work at least two hours a week within unincorporated areas of L.A. County, which make up more than 65% of the county.
Unincorporated areas include La Crescenta, Canyon Country, Baldwin Hills, Altadena, Castaic, Ladera Heights, Marina del Rey, Montrose, Wrightwood, Rowland Heights, Topanga Canyon, Universal City and multiple other areas. “We will ensure that workers in unincorporated LA County are protected and aware of the updated minimum wage, and we will work with our sister departments to support employers that may need assistance with information, compliance, and access to resources,” Carbajal said. The City of L.A. will also raise its minimum wage beginning July 1, from $15 to $16.04.That’s higher than California’s minimum wage, which climbed to $15 per hour for companies that employ at least 26 workers this year.
What does this mean …$641.60 for a 40 hour week. If we calculate a month being 4.3 weeks, the total is 2,778.12 per month gross. Whoopie…how many of you could live on that amount? We haven’t taken into consideration tax deductions, which averages about 20% and union dues. Last week the SEIU held a rally in Downtown LA telling the city that “2% was great for milk but not a reasonable offer for a raise in salary. “
On April 4th the City and SEIU came to an agreement for a new contract. Because the City employees postponed their 2% increase in 2020-2021, they will receive last year’s 2% increase in two payments in 2022. You can see the exact amounts per employment category both the new SEIU contract and the LA City payroll. The executive body approved the new offer subject to the union members voting YES by April 25.
Over 95,000 workers comprise the membership of SEIU Local 721 – making it the largest public sector union in Southern California. SEIU Local 721 represents people working in hospitals, foster care, mental health, courts, law enforcement, libraries, street services, beach maintenance, sanitation, water treatment, parks services and watershed management. SEIU Local 721’s jurisdiction– includes Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside and Santa Barbara, as well as municipalities like Azusa, Beaumont, Palm Springs, Pasadena, San Fernando and Santa Ana, among others. SEIU Local 721 also represents workers at publicly funded non-profits, like health clinics, in addition to employees of special districts and private universities.
I have been on both sides of the union question. I had the opportunity to see unions that paid their staff and officers exceedingly well, but were not as forceful in getting their dues paying members the same deal. I almost caused a strike at our exhibition in Philadelphia, when I commented rather loudly about two union workers carrying a 5-pound package with a forklift.
I’ve also seen where unions have made a positive difference in their member worker’s lives. People complain about sanitation workers salaries being almost the same as teachers. Collecting garbage and keeping our city clean is not the number one choice for a career. Aren’t you glad you don’t have to do it?
Income inequity is alive and well in this City. The disparity in many areas is revolting. Yes, I am a Capitalist, (notice the capital C) but I can’t understand companies who don’t offer their employees’ healthcare, sick leave, or vacations. There are loads of articles in the business and psych publications talking about the “new normal” for employees. One of my early mentors used to tell me that your most valuable assets go down the elevator at 5:00 every night.
The new normal will include flex time and the ability to work from home part of the week. Those that must show up every day should be compensated fairly. Unfortunately, there will always be those who exploit their workers and there will be those unions whose demands are excessive.
If there is a silver lining to this Covid pandemic it has given us time to determine what is important in life. Colleagues outside the U.S. used to tell me that Americans live to work…whereas they work to live. There will always be those who carry the title of workaholic as a badge of honor, but maybe those who seek a balance in life will increase.
I started off this article answering a criticism that the SEIU was the cause of all of California’s problems. We are all responsible for these problems. We elect incompetent officials, or don’t vote in local elections. We don’t participate in important issues. We bitch and complain about mistakes and annoyances on social media but don’t suggest solutions. We blame the Mayor for wrong doing by City officials, forgetting that we elected many of them. He is responsible for those he appointed, not those we elected. We want decent roads, better schools, to eradicate homelessness, clean water etc.etc.etc; at the same time complaining about paying taxes.
Given all these negatives… I remain a cautious optimist and I still wouldn’t live anywhere else!
(Denyse Selesnick is a CityWatch columnist and a former publisher/journalist/international event organizer. Denyse can be reached at: [email protected])
