The County of Los Angeles continues to actively monitor ongoing strike activity by number of DCFS child social workers.  The County’s Chief Executive Office would like to make the following points:

* Rather than focusing on the past two days of demonstrations by SEIU, our primary focus is ensuring child safety is not compromised.

* Hundreds of experienced managers are serving the children of LA County right now by filling in on front line positions.

* Striking social workers talk about protecting children, yet they’ve made the decision to walk out on the very children they’re responsible to protect.

* These kids need their social workers during the holiday season more than any other time of the year, SEIU knows this, and yet they’ve walked away.

* Everyone loses in this strike – 55,000 SEIU members that are not getting raises that other County labor groups are currently receiving, the striking workers who will never be paid for the days they were on strike, and most importantly, those who depend on the services we provide, children in this case, who are getting unnecessarily wrapped up into a matter they ought not to be impacted by, ever.

* While these strike actions by SEIU continue, 100 new social workers are finishing up their intensive 52-week training academy and will receive a full caseload next month.

* We are also finalizing the hiring of an additional 150 new social workers who will begin the training academy in January and February.

* The best way to protect kids is to get back on the job, and immediately return to the negotiating table.