Spencer Pratt, candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, said on Feb. 8 that Mayor Karen Bass has overseen larger wage increases for public sector unions while private sector workers have seen more modest gains, framing the issue as part of broader questions about labor influence in city government.
“Karen Basura (Bass) pays the unions so they can pay her. This corruption needs to stop. While private sector wages have only risen 3 percent last year, Basura raised the MTA wages by over 10 percent,” Pratt said in a video posted to social media. “What happens when she raises their pay? Their union dues increase and then the union pipes that money into Karen’s campaign.”
The dispute centers on public sector labor agreements in Los Angeles, where employees including those at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) negotiate wages and benefits through collective bargaining contracts.
Bass has received endorsements from multiple labor organizations, including Unite Here Local 11 and SEIU-USWW, which represent hospitality and property service workers in Los Angeles. Her campaign has also highlighted support from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, SEIU 721, AFSCME District Council 36, the California Nurses Association, and several Teamsters locals.
Union membership accounts for about 14.9% of wage and salary workers in California, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the Los Angeles area, roughly 14% of workers are represented by unions, a share that includes a large portion of public sector employees such as those at agencies like Metro, whose unions also play an active role in city labor negotiations and endorsements.
Pratt is a reality television personality who gained prominence on the MTV series The Hills. He announced his candidacy for mayor of Los Angeles challenging the incumbent in the nonpartisan election. Pratt has emphasized priorities such as supporting local businesses improving public safety and reforming city government operations.
