Labor intensive

With several union contracts expiring this summer, the city of Los Angeles will begin negotiating with its workers in the coming months. Below are profiles of four of the larger unions.

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Service Employees International

Union Local 721

Members in city government: 12,000

Jobs include: Repairing and servicing streets, maintaining beaches and landscape, assisting with public safety and keeping court records.

Contract expires: June

SEIU has yet to submit an opening bid to the city, but it expects wages and benefits to be the major issues during negotiations. Its previous contract included a relatively small wage increase, union officials say, which the union accepted because of the city’s financial difficulties at the time.

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American Federation of State,

County and Municipal Employees

Members in city government: 9,000

Jobs include: Providing librarian services, recreation and park leadership and programming and executive administrative assistance; answering 911 and 311 calls and staffing public service counters.

Contract expires: June

The union is tabulating the results of a members survey while beginning discussions with Los Angeles officials about the city budget. The union hopes to work with other city unions -- including those listed here -- in a coalition.

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Los Angeles/Orange County

Building Trades Council

Members in city government: 1,300

Jobs include: Electrical work, plumbing, painting, carpentry and other construction and maintenance.

Contract expires: August

The Building Trades Council says it is concerned, like other city unions, that members can’t afford to live in Los Angeles or surrounding cities.

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International Union of

Operating Engineers

Members in city government: 375

Jobs include: Operating and maintaining plant equipment.

Contract expires: June

The Operating Engineers will seek larger annual raises, although perhaps not as high as those received by workers at the Department of Water and Power. The union received no raise in the first year of the current contract and raises of less than 3% for the last two years.

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Source: Union figures.

Member numbers include full-time and part-time city workers.