Our Story
We are the lifeguards and aquatics aides at the West Hollywood Aquatic Center: the Temporary Lifeguard I, Temporary Lifeguard II, and Aquatics Aide staff who guard the pools, teach kids and adults to swim, and run the programming West Hollywood residents rely on. Many of us are West Hollywood residents ourselves. Despite the “temporary” label the City puts on us, most of us work here year-round, and many have for a year or more.
Whether we’re on the stand, in the water teaching lessons, or supporting pool operations, we share the same challenges: no job security, no guaranteed hours, no benefits, and no formal voice in the conditions we work under. The “temporary” classification is used to cap our hours and keep benefits off the table, even though this is steady, year-round work. That’s why we organized with AFSCME.
Why we’re organizing
We’re organizing with AFSCME because we believe:
- Every worker deserves respect and dignity on the job
- We should have a say in decisions that affect our own work
- Job security shouldn’t be a privilege: it should be a right
- Same work should mean same pay, regardless of classification
- Clear, consistent standards make everyone’s job easier and safer
Where things stand
We began organizing in October 2025. On February 20, 2026, we filed with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB Case No. LA-RR-1380-M) with majority support from more than 100 Temporary Lifeguard I, Temporary Lifeguard II, and Aquatics Aide employees, and formally asked the City to voluntarily recognize the union we chose.
On May 27, 2026, City Manager Jackie Rocco denied that request. The City’s position is that our unit isn’t appropriate on its own and should instead be folded into the existing full-time employee union. We disagree, and we’re contesting that decision: we work one facility, share the same certifications and supervisors, and have a distinct set of concerns, including no benefits, no guaranteed hours, and a swim-instruction pay gap, that a permanent-employee unit was never built to represent. Read more on our Issues page.
We’re keeping this campaign what it’s always been: cooperative, calm, and confident. We’re not looking for a fight. We’re asking West Hollywood to honor the neutrality it already pledged, and to recognize the union we built.
What a contract wins us
- Job security and permanent part-time standing, so steady year-round work isn’t treated as disposable
- Fair wages that reflect our training and experience
- Better benefits, including disability insurance and sick leave
- A voice in the policy decisions that affect our daily work
- Just cause protections, so discipline is documented and fair
- Written, enforceable standards applied consistently to everyone
- A real grievance process to resolve workplace disputes
About AFSCME
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is one of the nation’s largest public service employees unions, representing 1.4 million workers across the country. We’re organizing as our own local under AFSCME District Council 36, which represents nearly 30,000 workers across Southern California.