More than 4,000 Los Angeles County children’s social workers are striking Thursday over management they claim puts children at risk and unfair labor practices.
The strike, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., is their first in more than a decade.
Contract negotiations stalled this week after an agreement could not be made to reduce the social worker-to-child ratios, and to hire more workers, employees said.
“We're going to keep advocating for these kids,” said Chychy Ekeochah, a social worker and chair of the employees’ bargaining team. “They deserve the best possible care and service - and we want to be able to provide it."
Employees proposed that the county commit to hiring a total of 595 new social workers over the course of 17 months. They also proposed that social workers carry an average caseload of 21 children by 2015, as opposed to 31 children at a time.
Strikes are scheduled to take place in more than 15 locations, including Pasadena, West LA, Chatsworth and Santa Clarita.
A call to the Department of Children and Family Services was not immediately returned.
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