A salary study commissioned by ABC Unified School District (ABCUSD) found that its custodians, bus drivers, food service workers and trade workers are among the lowest paid among other area school districts.  Despite their own research's suggestion to increase wages, ABCUSD is choosing to do nothing instead. ABCUSD and the employee union (AFSCME Local 2229) had previously negotiated to conduct the salary study. Local 2229 represents ABCUSD's custodians, bus drivers, food service workers and trade workers (electricians, carpenters and HVAC technicians).   The study compared six jointly selected school districts and the study was completed in June 2023.  In all job categories, ABCUSD employees were paid below average and in most categories, were last place or second to last. Since the studies completion, the Union has looked at even more districts and has found this situation to be generally true.  For example, the top salary for mechanics at ABC District is be...

Local 3947 Sergeant of Arms – Fracisco Guetierrez, President Lupita Gomez- Duran, City Attorney Perrodin, Legal Technician Sandra De Dios, Vice President Jose Lozano By Andrew Perry Vice President, AFSCME District Council 36 City of Compton rightfully paid back wages to Legal Technician Sandra De Dios, in the amount of $92,000, for working out of class for an extended period of time. Over the years, the dedicated members of AFSCME Local 3947 have faced numerous challenges stemming from unstable management, budget deficits, and unfortunate layoffs. This situation has forced our members to shoulder increased workloads, often without the corresponding compensation they rightfully deserve. The city administration's reluctance to provide adequate remuneration has further compounded the difficulties faced by our members. The ever-changing landscape of Compton's leadership, with at least 6 City Managers and 4 different City Attorneys since 2015, has created an environment characterize...

  By Andrew Perry President, Artesia Local 1520 Vice President, AFSCME District Council 36 Artesia, California - City employees had to do a double take when the City Council decided to offer handsome salary increases for two managers in particular, while maintaining historic low salaries for all other employees. As union president, I take the philosophy of transparent local government to heart. Many Artesians have expressed to me the approval of not just the fight for the City in 2021, but also the reasons behind it - that employees were concerned about the City's finances and the ability of the City to serve its residents. Recent events have again raised concerns about transparency, particularly in light of the roles these two managers played in 2021, when the City was under a different city manager, whom employees contend ran the City like a mafia boss. How Two High Level Managers Compromise Artesia's Integrity When every employee rebelled against the former City Manager for...

  District Attorney George Gascon ANDREW PERRY  Los Angeles, California - In an era filled with false charges of election fraud, people might think District Attorney George Gascon would have been eager to prosecute an actual case of election fraud in his own backyard, in the city of Artesia, located in southeast Los Angeles County. Ironically, he is choosing not to.  Election fraud is a common accusation these days. Former President Donald Trump still claims that’s how he lost the 2020 election, despite there being no evidence to support the claim. Arizona governor candidate Kari Lake claimed it too, but still - no evidence. So far, there have been few legit cases of election fraud. However, when a legitimate case of election fraud came in the city of Artesia came before Attorney General George Gascon after an almost year long investigation by the LA County Sheriff's Public Corruptions Unit, what did Gascon do? Nothing. In fact, he seems to actively be avoiding the case....

  Compton, California - City of Compton's manager Thomas Thomas (yes, that's his name) offered the City's own employees from AFSCME Local 3947 zero salary increases over a three year period. The union is now at an impasse. On May 23, employees and allies attended the City Council meeting to let their voices be known. This is the first step in an issue that is likely to escalate if these employees are not offered a fair contract.  #afscme #union #cityofcompton #comptonca

Andrew Perry AFSCME District Council 36 Vice President, District IV Los Angeles County Superior Courts (LASC) is weathering a scandal after a report commissioned by LASC’s own consultant found that the management of LASC’s 4,600 employees is “subpar”. AFSCME union employees submitted an information request for a document called “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment Report” on March 13. The report, conducted by Richard D. Harvey and R&K Harvey, LLC, found that court employees were working in a retaliatory and hostile work environment under former Executive Officer Sherri R. Carter. When the union received the DEI, they noticed it was dated August 12, 2022. Carter had resigned a month after that date, in September 2022. LASC’s Own Management Commissioned The Report Almost like a plot twist, it was LASC’s management under Carter that had commissioned Harvey as a consultant to inspect the LASC. LASC didn’t like the findings, and it’s easy to understand why the findings wer...

  Torrance, California - Torrance employees and several members of allied union Locals packed a Torrance City Council meeting to deliver some important news: the City's ongoing mismanagement is leading to high turnover, and that the situation is reaching a crisis point. The status of a 'full service City' is now at risk. Prior to packing the house, AFSCME 1117 David Inez said he wants everyone too be positive and friendly, because the City Council is the last hope to keep Torrance a "full service City".  Union Representative Bob Adams said there are several city services that are close to being shut down due to lack of staffing. When asked about whether he is looking to steer Torrance away from being a full service city, City Manager Aram Chaparyan denied it. Other union locals who showed up in support of Torrance employees are Artesia 1520, Bellflower 3745, Carson 809, Lawndale 1895, Los Angeles 3090 and Los Angeles Metro 3634. United Steelworkers 675 was also i...

In fear, the Philadelphia Museum of Art closed its doors to the public today, because they did not want the good people of Philadelphia to know about their shameful attempts at union busting, nor see what was coming for them - thousands of union employees congregating on the iconic "Rocky steps" leading up to the world famous Philadelphia Museum of Art. Eye On Pioneer's Andrew Perry joins the rally.

  Los Angeles, California - For employees of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Friday the 13th (May 13, 2022) was a day of good fortune. That was the day that they voted to ratify a long negotiated union contract between MOCA and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. After 2.5 years of organizing their union and negotiating their contract, MOCA employees congregated after working hours and voted unanimously to ratify their contract. Union leaders Olivia Leiter and Ace Ubas talk about the hard fight to obtain a contract, and the inspirational moments that led to this ratification. Anna Marfleet and fellow union member Daphne Lyda talk about their unique contributions to the cause.

 Artesia, California - Sheriffs from the LA County Public Corruptions Unit have served at least one warrant to the City of Artesia, asking for electronic equipment, documents, records and other communications between former City Manager Bill Rawlings, a staff member, and two councilmembers (Tony Lima and Monica Manalo).   There are anonymous but unsubstantiated reports of other warrants served as well, including to the Rawlings residence. The warrant was served on December 14. Of interest, the warrant demands any records, reports, documents, and communications that took place between the above named individuals during the 17-day application period for the City Council election (July 28-August 13). The warrant also mentions that this investigation is for a possible felony that was committed. "This warrant seems to be related to allegations of election fraud that I have heard about," said Andrew Perry, President of AFSCME Local 1520, the staff union. "I don't know the...

President Jamie Rodriguez and the Lawndale City Employees of AFSCME Local 1895 voted 'No Confidence'  in City Manager Kevin Chun. Lawndale, California - Lawndale employees gave a strong ’No Confidence’ vote against City Manager Kevin Chun. The declaration of no confidence, along with reasons for the vote, was delivered in a letter to their City Council.  On Monday night (Nov 8) a special City Council meeting was called to review Chun’s performance. However, no reportable action was taken. City Council could not comment on the matter, either. “The Brown Act prohibits any of us from providing any additional information at this time, but when the matter is resolved it will be reported as such in open session,” said Lawndale Councilwomen Bernadette Suarez. Jamie Rodriguez, president of the Lawndale employee union, AFSCME Local 1895, explained some of the back story on the vote.  “Kevin is one of those city managers who didn’t take input from staff, and who made people f...

  Pasadena, California - Eye on Pioneer's Andrew Perry, a newly elected Vice President for AFSCME Council 36, joined an alliance of unions rallying to support striking nurses and medical professionals from UNAC and UHCP.  Other allied unions included United Steelworkers, AFSCME, and the Teamsters. Also supporting was the LA Federation of Labor and the AFL-CIO. The rally was on October 30, 2021.