UPDATED: Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia tweeted Friday that StreetsLA would be fining Universal Studios $250 for trimming trees without a city permit. He also said that “outdated laws limit fine amounts and aren’t equitable across offenders, especially big corporations” and that he will recommend these laws be reevaluated.
INVESTIGATION ? UPDATE:
StreetsLA has informed us that they are issuing a citation in the amount of $250 (first-time offense) to Universal Studios. The citation alleges a violation of trimming trees without a city permit.
Outdated laws limit penalties the City can issue. https://t.co/8ge7LElRao pic.twitter.com/T1jOWvXEB4
— LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia (@lacontroller) July 21, 2023
Both the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA filed labor complaints against NBCUniversal on Tuesday, alleging that the company is disrupting their strike efforts.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the complaints allege that NBCUniversal has “interfered with, coerced and restrained employees in the exercise of their rights” during the dual strike. Grievances include allegedly designating picket locations that were obstructed by construction fencing, resulting in marching in busy streets on which they say two picketers have been struck by cars, and not providing barriers to establish pedestrian walkways.
In a statement to the L.A. Times, NBCUniversal said: “We strongly believe that the company has fulfilled our legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act and we will cooperate with respect to any inquiries by the National Labor Relations Board on this issue. While we understand the timing of our multi-year construction project has created challenges for demonstrators, we continue to work with public agencies to increase access.”
Picketers also took to social media this week to point out that trees lining the sidewalk outside of Universal Studios in Los Angeles had been trimmed, therefore providing no shade to picketers during a heat wave.
L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia said he is looking into the matter. “Our office is investigating the tree trimming that occurred outside Universal Studios where workers, writers and actors are exercising their right to picket,” he wrote. “The trimmed trees are L.A. City managed street trees.”
Our Office is investigating the tree trimming that occurred outside Universal Studios where workers, writers, and actors are exercising their right to picket.
The trimmed trees are LA City managed street trees.
(Before and after photos below) pic.twitter.com/xczw0bTdh9
— LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia (@lacontroller) July 19, 2023
L.A. City Council member Nithya Raman also tweeted that “after looking into the matter with the Urban Forestry Division (UFD), we found that no permit was issued for any tree trimming at this site.” According to Raman, UFD and StreetsLA are looking into whether a citation can be issued.
Regarding the tree trimming at Universal Studios — after looking into the matter with the Urban Forestry Division (UFD), we found that no permit was issued for any tree trimming at this site. UFD and StreetsLA are investigating whether a citation can be issued.
BSS Statement: pic.twitter.com/3RyJpTO045
— Councilmember Nithya Raman (@cd4losangeles) July 19, 2023
LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia also released the following update via Twitter: “With cooperation from the Bureau of Street Services, we have found that no tree trimming permits have been issued over the last three years for this location outside Universal Studios. Also, the City did not issue any tree trimming permits for the latest tree trimmings.”
UPDATE:
With cooperation from the Bureau of Street Services, we have found that no tree trimming permits have been issued over the last three years for this location outside Universal Studios.
Also, the City did not issue any tree trimming permits for the latest tree trimmings. https://t.co/8ge7LElRao pic.twitter.com/JChoiNvHhW
— LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia (@lacontroller) July 19, 2023
In a statement to Variety, NBCUniversal said they were aware that “the safety tree trimming of the Ficus trees we did on Barham Blvd. has created unintended challenges for demonstrators.”
“That was not our intention. In partnership with licensed arborists, we have pruned these trees annually at this time of year to ensure that the canopies are light ahead of the high wind season,” NBCUniversal continued. “We support the WGA and SAG’s right to demonstrate, and are working to provide some shade coverage. We continue to openly communicate with the labor leaders on-site to work together during this time.”
Last week, the actors union SAG-AFTRA joined the Writers Guild of America on strike after an agreement was not reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The WGA has been on strike since May 2, and SAG-AFTRA’s participation marks the first time both unions were on strike since 1960.
variety.com
https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/wga-sag-aftra-labor-complaints-nbcuniversal-strike-tree-trimming-1235673869/
