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The California Economic Development Department on August 20th released July statistics, showing that unemployment in Los Angeles County rose slightly, from 12.2% up to 12.4%. The Inland Empire hit a record 15.1% unemployment rate. The dismal numbers are a conservative count of the unemployed, and do not count those forced to work part-time. Since the economic crash began in 2008 and the subsequent tax-payer funded bailout of the so-called too-big-to-fail banks, popular anger at the bailed-out financial institutions has swelled. Yesterday a group of Janitors in Los Angeles began a 72-hour hunger strike at Century Plaza Towers to protest the layoff of 16 employees who cleaned offices in that building, owned by JP Morgan Chase. The Janitors are members of the Service Employees International Union and are employed directly by a company named ABM Industries Incorporated. ABM’s website states that the company had revenues of approximately $3.5 billion in 2009. ABM laid-off the 16 janitors in Los Angeles two weeks ago with no explanation, prompting 57 of their co-workers to spontaneously walk-off the job. Those workers have been suspended indefinitely. Organizers of the hunger strike say it is meant to draw attention not only to the plight of the workers, but also to the growing economic inequality between workers and their corporate employers. JP Morgan Chase recorded second-quarter net income earnings this year of $4.8 billion. The janitors say they barely make enough money to feed their families, while some Chase employees are given millions in bonuses each year. SEIU’s communications director Jacob Hay wrote that “Someone has to hold JP Morgan accountable for the havoc they create, and we are here today to do just that.” Although JP Morgan Chase did not directly lay-off the workers, the Union holds that company responsible as the owner of the building.

Uprising Correspondent Chris Bennett was at the Century Plaza towers yesterday and spoke with union organizers and hunger striking workers.

All actions are being held at the Century Plaza Towers, at 2000 Avenue of the Stars. Yesterday the hunger strike began at 1pm and a candlelight vigil was held at 9:30pm. Public support is welcome over the next two days.

Today (Thursday) there will be a large March and Rally starting at 1:00pm.

Tomorrow (Friday) the janitors will end their hunger strike at 1:00pm.