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Sunday, Feb 9, 2025

Unions Putting Self-Interest Ahead of Community Well-Being

Business and labor are notorious for being on opposing sides of most issues. However, during a jobless recovery like the one we are now experiencing, it would seem that job creation is an area where both sides could work together to find common ground. Unfortunately, for the Los Angeles economy and city residents, this is not the case. At a time when the greater good should be placed ahead of special interests, unions and their affiliated groups are pushing the City of Los Angeles to give preferential permitting treatment to union-operated grocery stores. Sadly, it appears only union job creation – not the overall economic health of the community – is on the agenda for union supporters. About a year and a half ago, Councilmember Ed Reyes introduced a motion that, under the guise of providing residents with access to grocery stores, actually gives planning incentives to unionized markets. There is concern among members of the business community that the motion is now beginning to move through the City Council and could set a dangerous precedent for all land use decisions. On top of the proposed special treatment being considered by the city, union groups recently released grocery scorecards that purposely portrayed the industry unfavorably. There has also been talk that the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) may be pressured into only allowing grocery stores and hotels with unionized staff to develop projects in empowerment zones. CRA’s empowerment zones are located in areas in need of business investment and job creation. The goal of these zones is to reinvigorate local economies by giving businesses an incentive to invest in areas where they may not otherwise invest. To allow these areas of potential economic growth to be held hostage by union interests is irresponsible and not in the best economic interest of the community as a whole. Any legitimate business that wants to invest in the community should have the city’s backing. Most economic experts agree that job creation happens in the private sector, and the only way to turn around the city’s staggering unemployment rate is by cultivating an environment that encourages businesses to create jobs. Instead, by favoring certain businesses over others, union supporters want to construct even more road blocks on the path to job development. While there are many special interests throughout the city constantly competing for their share of the economic pie, job creation is in the interest of all residents. For successful and lasting recovery we cannot penalize businesses that want to create jobs over ideological differences. Residents (and unemployed Angelenos in particular) should be asking city leaders why union jobs are favored over non-union jobs. We should also be questioning why getting people back to work, which will help speed economic recovery, is not a greater goal than advancing the power and influence of unions. All businesses should be afforded an equal opportunity to expand anywhere in the city that zoning permits. The city’s unemployment rate is among the highest in the nation and what residents need are jobs, regardless of their union affiliation. Do you think companies with organized labor should receive preferential treatment regarding land use decisions? Is it right to treat union jobs as superior to non-union jobs? E-mail your responses or thoughts about the column to [email protected].

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