County Workers’ Walkouts Start Today

Los Angeles County workers begin a series of one-day strikes today, with animal control and registrar-recorder employees walking out first.

County officials have pledged to maintain services during the rolling series of strikes, which could last through Oct. 11, by using nonstriking workers.

The Department of Animal Care and Control operates six shelters and provides around-the-clock animal control and rescue services. Its workers patrol neighborhoods, beaches and canyons for lost, injured and abandoned animals. Department officers also sell dog licenses, investigate suspected cruelty to animals and enforce state and local animal control laws.

The Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk registers voters and conducts elections. It also issues marriage licenses and performs civil marriage ceremonies.

Birth, death and marriage records are kept by the department, as are fictitious business name filings.

Service Employees International Union Local 660 is seeking a 15.5% raise over three years for the 47,000 county workers it represents.

If the strike continues, workers from the departments of Public Social Services, Children and Family Services and Public Works will walk out Tuesday.

On Wednesday, sheriff’s, district attorney’s and public defender and probation workers will strike, along with assessor, treasurer-tax collector, auditor-controller and library employees.

Health care workers at various hospitals, clinics and departments are scheduled to walk out on Thursday, Friday and Oct. 10. Workers who maintain beaches are scheduled to strike Saturday.

If the rolling strikes continue, they will lead to a general strike set to begin on Oct. 11.

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Strike Schedule

A series of one-day strikes throughout L.A. County are due to begin today. Following are the departments that will be affected and the days walkouts are planned:

Today

* Registrar-recorder

* Department of Animal Control

Tuesday

* Department of Public Social Services

* Department of Children and Family Services

* Department of Public Works

Wednesday

* Civic Center

* Sheriff/jails

* District attorney

* Public defender

* Internal Services Department

* Assessor

* Treasurer-tax collector

* Auditor-controller

* Probation

* Public library

Thursday

* King/Drew Medical Center

* Southwest cluster of county health centers

* Mental Health Department

Friday

* Harbor/UCLA Medical Center

* South-coastal cluster of county health centers

Saturday

* Beaches and harbors (workers who maintain beaches and restrooms)

Oct. 10

* County-USC Medical Center

* Olive View Medical Center

* Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center

* High Desert Medical Center

* Department of Health Services

* Northeast cluster of county health centers

Oct. 11

Countywide strike