14 arrested during massive workers rally in downtown Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of labor union members on Wednesday launched a massive rally in downtown Los Angeles that snarled traffic and saw 14 arrests.

"More than 10,000 striking union members held a rally at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration with a march through the Civic Center. The action culminated with 14 members being arrested for non-violent civil disobedience -- an act meant to shine a light on County management's rampant law-breaking throughout contract negotiations," the rally's organizer said on its official website Wednesday evening.

The rally was part of a 48-hour strike organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721, a labor union representing public works employees, public mental health professionals, social workers, and parks and recreation personnel in the most populous county in the United States.

More than 55,000 members of the union took part in the strike that concluded Wednesday evening. The union accused county management of refusing to bargain with union members in good faith and alleged retaliation and surveillance of union members.

"This is the workforce that got L.A. County through emergency after emergency: the January wildfires, public health emergencies, mental health emergencies, social service emergencies, and more," David Green, SEIU 721's executive director and president, said in a statement when the strike was announced.

During Wednesday's rally, union members, most wearing purple shirts and many waving signs, marched through the downtown area. Workers carried banners at the head of the march, reading "LA County Workers on ULP Strike," and "We are the Safety Net."

The two-day strike impacted a number of services, including non-urgent health clinics, public libraries, wildfire debris removal, trash pickup services and homeless encampment enforcement. ■