Listen to this story here: California Special Election Coverage (1 of 3): Report from Los Angeles

This is the first of three special reports from the Workers Independent News highlighting the special election battle in California. Leilani Albano reports on organized labors fight in Los Angeles concerning propositions 74 through 78. She also investigates labor's silence on proposition 73 - which would require healthcare workers to notify parents prior to giving minor's an abortion:

---

[Start Leilani Albano]:

Unionists in the second largest American city are going all-out to defeat initiatives included in this year’s Special Elections.

Despite Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s decline in popularity, Los Angeles labor organizers aren’t taking any chances and are pouring all of their resources and efforts to oppose the November 8 measures. With a war chest of $80 million, the city’s unions have made it their priority to get the word out to defeat the governor’s propositions.

[LUDLOW1]:We have been organizing workers from Los Angeles county from somewhat of an historic clip… (5 seconds)

That was Martin Ludlow, newly elected executive secretary- treasurer of the LA County Federation of Labor.

[LUDLOW2]: Workers united from a very conservative law enforcement and public safety figures to janitors and hotel workers are coming together to walk precincts, go door-to-door and talk to their neighbors…We’ve been holding hundreds of worksite meetings with places of employment. We’ve been phone banking our members, sending direct messages from union presidents and really leaving no stoned unturned, in terms of taking on this attack that the governor has waged against California’s workers. (31 seconds)

Of the eight initiatives included in this month’s election ballot, the unions have taken positions on four proposals, which they say affect a majority of working-class people.

Propositions 74 through 78 deal with: toughening tenureship rules for teachers, weakening public-sector unions, school spending limits, changing re-districting methods, and gaining access to low-cost pharmaceuticals.

Firefighter, Andy Doyle, who spoke at a recent rally at downtown Pershing Square, had this to say about the Special Elections.

[DOYLE]: Firefighters are working people just like everyone else. This is who the governor is attacking. Me, you and every worker in California and we will not stand for it. (clapping)(18 seconds)

David Hernandez, who is a teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District, also spoke out against the governor.

[HERNANDEZ]: How dare you, how dare you attack us…(clapping)…we say that if Governor Schwarzenneger wants to help, he should come with us into the trenches for more than just a photo opportunity then he can see for himself the conditions we cope with everyday, then maybe he would work with us, instead of attacking us. (25 seconds)

Blanca Perez, who works as a janitor, says the initiatives will hurt the average laborer.

[PEREZ]: The governor is anti-worker and he’s 100 percent with the corporations. He’s supporting the corporations, why isn’t he supporting the workers? (10 seconds)

Labor unions are not alone in their efforts to defeat the initiatives. The citywide “Alliance for a Better America”, religious leaders, elected leaders as well as host of community service organizations with “Coalition LA”, are working to defeat the Special Election propositions.

While organizers have been vocal in their opposition to the measures 74 to 78, unionists as well as Coalition LA and others, have been conspicuously silent on Proposition 73.

The initiative amends the constitution requiring healthcare workers to notify parents prior to giving minors an abortion. Ludlow explains:

[LUDLOW3]: We believe, as an institution, that there are several ballot initiatives that go to the heart and soul of our ability to do what we do, which is to organize and represent workers. Initiatives or candidates that are not necessarily on that page…There are many occasions where we have not taken a position. This is by far not the first time nor the last time. (26 seconds)

Long-time activist and UFW co-founder, Dolores Huerta, says that labor organizers should see the measure as a union issue.

[HUERTA]: It does involve labor because a large number in the labor movement are women, so it definitely affects those women in the labor movement. And its unfortunate that labor did not come out strongly against this issue. (10 seconds)

Alejandro Murrieta Ahumada, who is with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, agrees.

[MURRIETA AHUMADA]: The unions have decided that this is a wedge issue and that they would be silent on it and let people vote their conscience. I’m disappointed because I see it, if things continue to go this way, Roe versus Wade will be overturned. The unions have an opportunity to oppose that now and they are not taking advantage of it. (18 seconds)

[HUERTA2]: The gay and lesbian community, the labor movement, the women’s movement, the environmental movement, the civil rights movement, and uh… we’ve got to come together, when we don’t, I think we pay the price. (10 seconds)

For the Workers Independent News, this is Leilani Albano.