San Diego, CA, November 30, 2023: Distribution clerks Ross Albers, left, and Piero Cavallini put packages on a new Automated Delivery Unit Sorter (ADUS), which is used to automate sorting of smaller packages at Chula Vista’s Main Post Office on Thursday, November 30, 2023. The location has been selected as a new sorting and delivery … Read more
A record number of Southern Californians were working in November, despite a hiring pace that was three-quarters what’s normal for the month. My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures released Friday, Dec. 22, found a record 8.17 million at work in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. That’s a gain of 47,400 … Read more
Tensions mounted at St. Francis Medical Center on Friday, Dec. 22 when Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Long Beach, and others were denied access to the Lynwood hospital, which is owned and operated by Prime Healthcare. Barragan said she went there hoping to see seven striking workers who were fired Wednesday reinstated to their jobs. The terminations … Read more
California’s economy could use some holiday cheer. Yes, like the nation, the state avoided a recession in 2023 despite numerous challenges, including a Federal Reserve throttling business opportunities with high interest rates to chill a nasty bout of inflation. In fact, the state economy’s 3.4% growth, as measured by Gross Domestic Product for 2023’s first … Read more
A strike by county-employed doctors, dentists, psychiatrists and veterinarians in Los Angeles was averted Friday, Dec. 22 when the two sides agreed to have third-party experts intervene. The employees, who are represented by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, say their current benefits plan, Choices, is the same one provided to rank-and-file county workers. … Read more
Striking workers at St. Francis Medical Center who have openly complained of understaffing and inadequate patient care were fired Wednesday, Dec. 20, just five days before Christmas. The seven employees who were terminated at the Prime Healthcare-owned hospital in Lynwood include the entire five-member bargaining team with SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, which represents healthcare employees … Read more
By Levi Sumagaysay and Shreya Agrawal | CalMatters Californians in two industries are set to get new minimum wages just for them next year, and that could lead to pay bumps for other workers, too. Gov. Gavin Newsom this year signed two union-backed bills that will boost fast-food and health care workers’ minimum wages. California-based … Read more
Nurses, medical assistants, ER techs and others at four Prime Healthcare hospitals launched their second strike of the year Wednesday, Dec. 20, claiming severe understaffing and high turnover have undermined patient care. The 1,800 workers represented by SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West also say Prime management has tried to prevent them from participating in union activities. … Read more
Southern California lost 37,149 residents in the past year, a drop one-third of what was seen in the previous two years. The six-county region had 21.7 million residents, according to the state Department of Finance tally as of July 1. The past year’s population decline was 68% less than the average 115,187 yearly loss in … Read more
Southern California’s massive hotel strike reignited Sunday, Dec. 17 as hundreds of workers from Santa Monica, Los Angeles and Pasadena walked off the job for higher wages and better working conditions. The walkout continued Monday at the Pasadena Hilton, Courtyard Santa Monica, Doubletree Los Angeles, Doubletree San Pedro, Hampton Inn Santa Monica and Holiday Inn … Read more
