S.F. union members arrested at City Hall protesting planned layoffs

Eleven union workers were arrested during a protest against layoffs proposed by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie at a Board of Supervisors meeting. Approximately 100 union members disrupted the session, chanting against plans to eliminate 1,400 city positions to tackle a $782 million deficit. Protesters from SEIU Local 1021 and IFPTE Local 21 demanded the safeguarding of public services, asserting that the city could balance its budget through alternative cuts. Union representatives have proposed urging Airbnb to abandon its costly lawsuit against the city as a potential savings measure. Lurie’s budget proposal includes painful decisions, yet critics argue that unfilled positions could be cut instead of those currently filled.

District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan expressed her commitment to identifying redundancies across city departments to mitigate job losses. The protest followed earlier rallies, indicating a sustained effort by union members to oppose the cuts. The Board is set to vote on the mayor’s proposed Annual Salary Ordinance, which details city positions and pay rates.