AFSCME Local 800 speak out against regressive bargaining

Members of AFSCME Local 800 at Jewish Federation Los Angeles (JFEDLA) took to the picket line on Tuesday with a simple message for management: Don’t renege on your commitment!

The June 30 informational picket was organized following what the union describes as a breakdown in contract negotiations with Jewish Federation Los Angeles and its affiliated agencies: Builders of Jewish Education, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles, and the Jewish Community Foundation.

Local 800 began negotiating in April to hopefully finish bargaining before the July 1 deadline. After eight bargaining sessions, Local 800 and JFEDLA reached a verbal agreement on June 25 that included wage increases totaling 13% over three years: 5% in the first year, followed by 4% and 4%, and in return, Local 800 agreed to withdraw proposals for Veterans Day as a paid holiday, additional paid bereavement leave, severance protections for long-serving time-limited employees, parental leave, and more. However, when JFEDLA’s attorney presented the written proposal, the language had been changed to 4%, 4%, and 4%.

“Changing agreed-upon contract language after a verbal agreement undermines the bargaining process,” said Lilia Arbona, President of AFSCME Local 800. “Our members negotiated in good faith, and we remain ready to return to the table to reach a fair agreement.” 
Additionally, JFEDLA has refused to make any wage increases retroactive if bargaining continued past the June 30 contract expiration. Now, after the union declined to sign the revised agreement, JFEDLA informed the union that it would not be available to resume bargaining for at least two weeks. 

Tuesday’s picket was to let JFEDLA management know that regressive bargaining is unacceptable. Local 800 is looking forward to returning to the bargaining table to formalize a fair contract with the agreed upon wage increases.