Brief: Game cancelled

BY CECILIA PARADA Managing editor

The Los Angeles Community College District is refusing to recognize hundreds of workers with fair wages, according to Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99.

Communications specialist

Denae Ayala wrote in a press release that workers are demanding better treatment.

“Custodians and essential workers represented by SEIU Local 99 were called heroes during this pandemic, but the district now refuses to recognize their work with fair wages and a fair contract,” Ayala wrote.

The SEIU Local 99 consists of nearly 50,000 education workers in the K-12 system, early education and daycare, administration offices and community colleges across Southern California. This includes more than 300 custodians, groundskeepers and maintenance workers at the Los Angeles Community College District, according to Ayala.

Ayala also wrote that after months of negotiations, the deals offered to the service workers were unacceptable,

“Workers have declared that negotiations have reached an impasse and presented an official filing with the California Public Employment Relations Board,” Ayala wrote.

“This means negotiations are no longer productive and workers are calling for a neutral mediator to step in to work with the Union and the District to attempt to reach an agreement. "

"If this process does not produce a settlement, SEIU Local 99 workers will have the right to strike over the District’s failure to meet their demands in negotiations.”

According to the SEIU Local 99 website, COVID-19 has exposed inequities in the education system, specifically in the cleaning and maintenance of schools, because of staffing cuts and unmanageable workloads.

About 38 percent of students attend schools that do not meet the minimum facility standards, according to the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). Students attending these schools are exposed to damaged floors, walls or ceilings. Some campuses also have gas leaks, power failures and structural damage.

Executive director Max Arias said that the custodians and service workers are essential in continuously ensuring the health and safety of the schools.

“Custodians have continued to disinfect schools and maintenance workers have made critical upgrades to school air filtration systems,” Arias said. “Their work is critical to ensure the full reopening of campuses and the continued safety of students and staff.”

The PPIC said that improvements to ventilation systems might be necessary in addition to hiring more custodial staff and purchasing extra supplies.

Los Angeles Southwest College custodian Rosa Aguirre said that she believes a wage increase is long overdue.

"I have continuously worked through the pandemic in person. No questions asked,” Aguirre said. “However, like Albert Einstein said, 'The important thing is to never stop questioning.' And my question is: why can't we receive a pay increase? We are essential yet we are struggling with higher prices for food, gas, and basic needs. Inflation is high and what we earn now is not enough. We need a pay increase. We deserve a pay increase.” cparada.roundupnews@gmail.com

BY FELIPE GAMINO Sports editor

The football game scheduled for Saturday between the Pierce College Brahmas and the Glendale Community College Vaqueros was canceled.

This is the second game that was canceled for the team. Their season opener against Bakersfield turned into a scrimmage after not having enough players cleared. It ended up being a forfeit loss for the Brahmas.

The Acting Vice President of Student Services Juan Carlos Astorga contacted commissioner Jim Sartoris and GCC Associate Dean of Athletics Chris Cicuto to notify them of their decision.

“Out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our student athletes, the football game scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 9 with Glendale Community College has been canceled due to a reduced roster of available players,” Interim President Aracely Aguiar wrote. “Pierce remains strongly supportive of its athletic programs for all men and women and their safety, especially in fullcontact sports, is a top priority for Pierce. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to working through the remaining schedule.”

The canceled game resulted in a forfeit loss for the Brahmas, dropping their record to 0-4 Football will look to get their season back on track as they travel to SBCC. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. fgamino.roundupnews@gmail.com