2008 Contract Fights by the Numbers

In 2008 more than 350,000 workers – belonging to 30 local unions – will re-negotiate their union contracts. This is the largest number of workers negotiating in one year in the history of the L.A. Labor Movement.

These workers hail from key sectors reflecting the core of L.A.’s economy: actors, longshoremen, homecare workers, teachers and janitors. Check out what the Economic Roundtable is saying about the economic impact of these fights in a recent study, "The Economic Footprint of Unions in Los Angeles." For the complete study click here. Below are some findings from this study:

Where do these workers work?

Over 90% of L.A.’s workers whose contracts are up in 2008 provide some type of service. Most work in health care services, such as homecare workers, nurses and psychologists.

Four out of five workers are in professional or service occupations. Professional occupations include entertainment industry workers such as commentators, sportscasters and actors appearing in film and in commercials. Service occupations include home health care workers, janitors, and fire fighters.

How much do these workers earn?

The estimated average annual earning of these workers is $41,682.

In the three occupational groups that account for 90% of the jobs covered by contracts next year, the estimated wage advantage of union workers over nonunion workers in these groups are as follows:

• Service occupations 64%
• Office and administrative support occupations 34%
• Professional and related occupations 13%

The total earnings of workers bargaining for new contracts in 08’ is $14 billion.

The wages of workers bargaining for new contracts in 08’ exceed the average wages of non-union workers in the same occupations by a cumulative $2.9 billion.

What is the impact of the 2008 Contract Fights on the local economy?

The earnings of L.A. workers bargaining for a new contract in 08’ supported 126,700 additional jobs in 2007. This as a result of having more money to spend on housing, dinning out, health care, shopping, transportation, entertainment and savings. This is 26,700 more jobs than would be supported in the local economy if these workers did not earn union wages.

The spending of money by L.A. worker wages bargaining for a new contract in 08’ stimulates $21 billion in sales annually and $3 billion in taxes to all levels of government.

The network of economic activity linked to workers bargaining for new contracts in 08’ encompasses 12% of L.A.’s economy.