City Council OKs Law to Help Save Jobs When Contracts Shift

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday narrowly approved a measure that will help service workers keep their jobs when city contracts change hands.

The broad ordinance stemmed from the controversy generated last spring when concessions at Los Angeles International Airport changed hands and 300 workers received pink slips, but it applies to any service contract worth more than $5,000. It requires a new contractor to hire the employees who have worked for the old contractor for at least 90 days, unless there is a reason to fire them.

“It’s a way of respecting families and stabilizing the work force,” said Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who sponsored the measure.