Labor Leaders Make Supervisor Race Top Priority

Union officials say replacing L.A. County's Yvonne B. Burke in February's election is crucial because she is one of three votes counted on when contracts are at issue.

Leaders of Los Angeles' labor movement said they would make the race for a successor to county Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke their top political priority next year. The outcome, they said, could affect the welfare of hundreds of thousands of workers.

The Feb. 5 election to replace Burke, who is expected to step down after 16 years on the Board of Supervisors, will initiate a busy year for labor.

Unions are set to renegotiate 32 contracts for nearly 340,000 workers throughout Los Angeles County, while pressing campaigns to organize another 30,000 guards, hotel workers, port truck drivers and others.

The contract talks will have an effect through county government, the largest employer in the region.

Burke is one of three Democratic supervisors labor has counted when contracts are at issue.

12-06