In a unanimous vote, the Los Angeles City Council recently passed the most progressive worker policy to date during the COVID-19 crises helping tens of thousands of hospitality, airport and commercial maintenance workers in the city of Los Angeles.
The Worker Retention and Recall policy allows displaced workers, in some of the hardest-hit industries, to return to their jobs once the economy begins to settle, and the rehiring process begins. Additional retention requirements were included to prevent mass layoffs of workers, in the event that their place of business is sold to another owner.
“This is a win for not just union members, but for all working families here in Los Angeles,” said Ron Herrera, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. “Today, we restored hope for those who are most downtrodden. As a movement, we made a statement that even in the thralls of one of the worst health crises in memory, and unprecedented economic instability, we will put people over profit and protect the American Dream that many have fought decades to achieve.
“I, and the hundreds of thousands of union members across Los Angeles, applaud the bold leadership of City Council President Nury Martinez, Mayor Garcetti, and the entire City Council. The Los Angeles labor movement is proud to have championed this historic legislation, and it serves as a blueprint for other cities to follow.”
