Workers Who Run Staples Center Systems Vote to Strike

Workers who run the air-conditioning and electrical systems at Staples Center voted unanimously Wednesday to strike, days before Saturday’s championship fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley and two possible NBA championship basketball games.

The vote by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 501 was announced late Wednesday by Dennis Lundy, training administrator for the union. Lundy said he did not know when workers would actually walk off their jobs, but expected it would be soon.

Lundy said the action was not being taken over pay issues, but did not say what issues were involved. The union was to issue a statement today.

Lee Zeidman, Staples Center vice president of operations, said he expected no problems in operating the arena.

The strikers are not Staples Center workers, Zeidman said, but are employed by Sempra Energy Solutions, one of the arena’s founding partners.

“Local 501 voted not to accept the terms of the contract,” Zeidman said. “I have heard nothing about a strike, and it would not be a strike against Staples Center. We have a very good relationship with the Sempra employees. Any action would be directed toward Sempra, not Staples Center.”

If a strike does take place, Zeidman said, he expects Sempra simply will replace the workers and operations will continue.

“Staples Center will not skip a beat,” he said.

Sempra spokesman Bob Harmon could not be reached for comment.

The Los Angeles Lakers hold a 3-1 lead over the Indiana Pacers in the best-of-seven NBA finals, with the fifth game to be played in Indiana on Friday. If the Pacers win, the series will return to Staples for the sixth game on Monday. A seventh game, if necessary, would be played June 21 at Staples.

Meanwhile, De La Hoya and Mosley fight for the WBC welterweight title on Saturday.

In April, a contract dispute between Staples Center management and concession workers was settled. Since then, arena officials have been working with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor to resolve issues before August’s Democratic National Convention at the center.