Lanterman Regional Centers Workers UE Local 1018 On Strike

UE Local 1018 Is On Strike for Fairness, Respect, and Dignity

The frontline workers of UE Local 1018—who coordinate critical services and advocate for children and adults with developmental disabilities—have been forced to strike after months of compromise by the union and little meaningful movement by management.

This is a fight for fair wages, dignity on the job, and basic respect—rights every worker deserves.

Every day, our members go above and beyond: managing overwhelming caseloads, training new staff, and filling in gaps caused by chronic understaffing—all without fair compensation or recognition. Meanwhile, three top executives take home nearly $1 million a year in salaries and enjoy flexible remote work options they deny to the rest of us.

Management’s latest contract offer is a slap in the face.

They rejected equity raises for long-serving, underpaid staff. They proposed new restrictions on remote work. And they refused to meaningfully address the crushing workloads harming both our members and the vulnerable families we serve. All while continuing to lavish six-figure salaries on the Executive Director, her assistant, and the HR Director.

This toxic environment has led to high turnover and burnout. Some of our own members—parents of children with disabilities—have been treated with callous disregard by a leadership team that claims to champion families like theirs.

This strike is about more than a contract.

It’s about fighting for the value of workers. It’s about demanding reasonable, just, and respectful workplaces. It’s about standing up to management’s growing efforts to divide and disempower workers. Our members voted overwhelmingly to reject management’s disrespectful offer and to authorize this strike.

We are united. We are determined. We will not back down.