LA County workers rally for pay raises

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It was a sea of purple shirts and yellow flags outside the LA County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, in response to County CEO William Fujioka's budget recommendations for the fiscal year. Though salary negotiations are not part of today's meeting, members like Marlene Allen from the Service Employee International Union want salaries to be part of the conversation.

"We haven't had a raise in four years, and the cost of living has gone up, the costs of goods and services, groceries and tuition for children has gone up," said Allen. "And we sacrificed. We've given back in our retirement. We've rolled over our contracts, so it's time for us to get a raise."

Another reason for Tuesday's huge turnout is because of "Bring your child to work day." Marcos Alvarez has worked at the county for 23 years and brought his children to the rally.

"I had an argument with a principal today, said Alvarez. "I said, what better lesson can you teach your children to let them know you don't take anything for granted, you got to fight for what's right. This was a trip worth coming to."

Workers' unions pushing for higher pay is business as usual, according to LA County spokesman David Sommers.

"That it is a fairly routine effort by our union partners to talk about the issues important to them," said Sommers. "But our Board of Supervisors is very much aware that all employees have gone five years without raises, and this is a starting point discussion."

After four years of budget deficits, pay freezes were one of the measures used to balance the city's budget. Salary negotiations with county workers will not be settled until later in the year.