2ND DISTRICT REPORT | REX PRICHARD
Big Risk Yields Big Win for
Santa Monica Firefighters
Since the mid 1990s, Santa Monica Firefighters Local 1109 has been involved in local political action largely through its endorsements and by relying on the PACs of other unions. Two years ago, however, Local 1109 decided to take its political action to the next level, and the risk appears to have paid off.
In the 2020 council races, Santa Monica Firefighters put its weight and PAC funding squarely behind underdog candidate Christine Parra, the director of the Emergency Operations Center in nearby Culver City. In a shocking result, Parra — a virtual unknown at the start of the race — won a seat on the Council, outpolling better known, incumbent council members.
“She was a long shot … had no major infrastructure behind her, but she understood how fire interacts with the city. We believed in her from the start,” said Santa Monica Firefighters Local 1109 President Dominick Bei. “She is a valuable resource on the council — an amazing individual who is knowledgeable about one of the city’s highest priorities: emergency services.”
The roots of Santa Monica’s election success, said Bei, was the agreement by Local 1109 members to a six-month boost in PAC dues in the summer of 2019 and, subsequently, to extend that temporary hike for another six months. The increase fueled a $75,000 to $80,000 independent expenditure campaign from the local — the vast majority of it for Parra.
“We utilized our knowledge of city politics alongside some consulting and CPF’s Firefighters Print & Design to bring a high-end, effective IE up and running,” said Bei. “In addition to mail, we also conducted a field campaign that included text messages, phone calls and social media, including viral video.”
Local 1109’s campaign helped Parra stand out among a slate of candidates that enjoyed strong labor and community support. In the end, she was the third-highest vote getter in the at-large council elections, ensuring her a seat on the council.
Bei gives full marks to his members for ponying up the PAC increase that helped set the table, especially since they agreed to the dues hike in 2019 — a time when there was no great controversy or threat facing them. “The members get 100 percent of the credit,” said Bei. “If they don’t see the value of the PAC and commit, we don’t have the tools at our disposal. But they saw the value and then they doubled down. It was a proud moment for our Executive Board, who also saw the need ahead of 2020.”
The election involvement and success has already left its mark. The city council has withdrawn a threatened rollback of emergency staffing, and has been able to successfully advocate for resources to protect Santa Monica Pier and the coastline — high-target, high-traffic areas.
“Fire hasn’t always been a relevant player, but this brought us to a place where we know we can impact elections,” said Bei. “We may not always win, but we will have an impact one way or another.”
Kern Co. Firefighters Don’t Back
Down Despite Tough Local Politics
In 2020, Kern County firefighters were victims of what felt like a double-cross from a county supervisor whom they’d worked hard to elect. But if the powers that be — including that supervisor — thought Local 1301 would go away, they have another thing coming.
Three years out of contract and without a raise for 14 years, neutral mediation called for a substantial pay increase to help stop the hemorrhaging of firefighters from the department. When the contract came up for a vote, that supposedly-labor-friendly supervisor — Leticia Perez — went with the anti-labor forces and voted to impose a contract with rollbacks that could actually cut pay and force longer hours.
“We had made the case, and the mediator proved it,” said Local 1301 President David Nelson. “But in the 11th hour, she (Perez) flipped on the contract, even though she’s supposed to be this self-proclaimed labor leader.”
Because Kern County has never been friendly to labor thanks to a powerful anti-union political machine, Local 1301 has long found itself pushing the rock uphill with management and supervisors. Still, Perez’s sudden flip was a bitter pill. “We worked our butts off for her for three election cycles, said Nelson. “We walked every street and went big.”
Perez’s sudden flip on the contract will have real-world consequences for the citizens of Kern County. Recruitment and retention have been a major challenge, with the department basically becoming a training way station. “We’re bleeding firefighters,” said Nelson. But her action also stiffened the resolve of Local 1301 and its members.
Mobilizing with their partners the county sheriffs — who felt similarly betrayed and dismissed — Local 1301 began its fight-back with letters to every chamber of commerce, city manager and retired firefighter in the area. The message was the same: Your safety, health and, likely, your insurance costs will continue to take a hit. The local also got some help from an unlikely source. A one-time adversary on the board of supervisors sided with firefighters when the county tried to close seven stations, after it had imposed its concessionary contract.
Perez’s sudden reversal will cost her support from Local 1301, and almost insures that she won’t get firefighter backing if she pursues higher office. More importantly, though, Nelson says the experience has galvanized his members. “Our unity is greater than it has been in 20 years,” he said.
“Our PAC is healthy and we are doubling down,” Nelson concluded. “We’re mobilizing to put ourselves in a position of dominance, and we will not be unsuccessful in the next round.”