The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the region’s largest labor organization, has made its pick for the 2024 City Council election by announcing its endorsement of Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Barry Snell, and Natalya Zernitskaya. “The Fed” noted it is far from alone endorsing this quartet joining local organizations such as the Santa Monica Democratic Club, Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, Unite Here! Local 11 and regional groups including the L.A. County Democratic Party.
“The Progressive Slate’s Hall, Raskin, Snell, and Zernitskaya all have strong records of Democratic activism in favor of renters, workers and the environment,” reads the endorsement.
But the labor organization didn’t just tout the credentials of the slate they endorsed, but also took aim at what they deemed anti-labor actions by the incumbents. They reserved their hottest fire for incumbent Mayor Phil Brock who is running with the “Safer Santa Monica” Slate for re-election.
“During the historic hotel worker strike, Mayor Brock tried to restrict workers’ ability to protest. We need a council who will stand with working people, not with wealthy hotel corporations.” said Cristina Navarro, 20-year hotel room attendant, Union shop steward, Santa Monica renter, and member of the Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Steering Committee.
In September of last year, Brock introduced a motion to restrict the hours and noise level of strikes against hotels in Santa Monica in response to complaints from residents. He pulled the motion before a vote, but then-Mayor Gleam Davis decided to allow the union members and their supporters to speak anyway as they had already waited for hours after closed session to say their piece.
Brock vowed to workshop the motion and bring it back, which he did after he ascended to Mayor. In March of this year, a similar motion was introduced but was pulled from the agenda again once the room was packed with union members in opposition.
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