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NEWS & LETTERS, April-May 2006SEIU picket in L.A.Los Angeles--Over 100 members of SEIU Local 99, employees of the Los Angeles United School District (LAUSD), demonstrated Feb. 28 outside the LAUSD Administration Building where the Board of Education was meeting. Local 99 represents 38,000 non-teacher employees, including teachers’ aides, bus drivers, mechanics and cafeteria workers. The demonstration of mostly Latina cafeteria workers also included some Blacks, whites, and Asians. A few of the signs read “Esta enfermo de trabajar sin plan medico” (“Sick of working without healthcare”), “LAUSD cafeterias need healthy workers,” and “Health Care Now for all LAUSD employees.” Mike Garcia, president of SEIU Local 1877 (which represents janitors), told how the prior janitors union, composed of mostly African Americans, was broken in the 1980s by the hiring of low-income Latino janitors. He stated that Local 1877, today composed mostly of Latinos, has been organizing security guards (many of whom are African-American) for three years. He concluded--we can win if we don’t divide by race. After over two hours of picketing, workers entered the meeting hall. The superintendent of the LAUSD, Roy Rohmer, left the meeting before the first worker spoke. A Latina stated that though she’s working two jobs, she has no healthcare. Recently she had bronchitis, which cost her $900 to treat. She asked for more hours on the job so they could qualify for healthcare. Another Latina stated that there are over 2,000 cafeteria workers without medical benefits. They are rushed in their work to feed thousands of children, who themselves don’t have enough time to eat. A young white woman stated that she’s paid for working three-hour days, but she actually works longer. The cafeteria is short of staff. They need more people and more hours. Six workers at her school feed 1,200 people daily. Her husband, who has no health insurance, was recently diagnosed with cancer. She received loud, spontaneous applause from the audience. A Black woman said she is paid for three hours a day but sometimes works four to six. One more hour per day would qualify her for healthcare. When her kids get sick, they spread their sickness to their classmates because of lack of healthcare. There are over 10,000 district employees without healthcare. She also received loud applause. At the conclusion of their grievance, the demonstrators left the meeting and chanted, “We’ll be back--we’ll be back...” --Basho |
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