UNIONS DOWN: From autos to aerospace, plant...
UNIONS DOWN: From autos to aerospace, plant closings have brought hard times to organized labor in Southern California, with the toll particularly heavy in the San Fernando Valley (above). The county’s high unemployment rate--9.1% in May--has created a large surplus of workers, giving employers a pool to draw on that thwarts organizing campaigns. . . . An exception: unions for grocery workers and show biz--but even they’re on the defensive. See Valley Business.
SHOPPING UP: Universal CityWalk is a bold departure from the usual shopping mall, with its high-tech facsimile of a dream-world town center. But will the neon storefronts and rain forest boutiques, the casual eateries with fancy names like Wolfgang Puck’s, make money? . . . Despite the pricey rents MCA is charging, retail specialists figure the $100-million development is on the golden brick road to success. See Valley Business.
ROUNDUP TIMING: Immigration law enforcement got dragged into the tussle between Los Angeles City Councilwoman Joy Picus and challenger Laura Chick in today’s election. As Picus, who has been getting heat from constituents over day laborers, looked on, INS agents rounded up illegal migrants in Woodland Hills (B1). Picus said the timing was coincidental. . . . Chick called it a phony attempt to win votes by milking an issue Picus never had dealt with before.
HOUSES SELL: This is the classic good news/bad news for homeowners who want to sell in a long-depressed real estate market. For the first time in five months, housing sales rose in the Valley in May, increasing 8%. . . . The joker: Sell cheap. Prices were down 6%. See Valley Business.
HOME TURF: Mark Singer of North Hollywood and three others earned berths in the U. S. Open in qualifying at the Valencia Country Club (C9). Singer used his familiarity with the Valencia course . . . he was once a locker room attendant there.
Working Unions
4 Big Locals in the Valley.
1988 1993 UFCW 770 10,000 10,000 IAM 727 8,000 2,500 UAW 645 4,800 1,500 IATSE 695 2,700 3,000
Union locals: United Food & Commercial Workers Local 770, International Assn. of Machinists District 727, United Auto Workers Local 645, International Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees Local 695.
