The Engineers and Architects Assn. concluded a two-day strike Wednesday, pulling down picket lines after failing to seriously disrupt public services or force Los Angeles city officials to offer a better raise to the union's more than 7,500 workers. The marching and protests, while gaining few tangible results for the union, appeared conversely to bolster the political fortunes of its chief adversary, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Over the two days, Villaraigosa stood fast on the city's contract offer and shrugged off union charges that he was a "scab" for crossing the picket line.
See "L.A. Strike Ends After 2 Days", Joe Matthews and Duke Helfand, Los Angeles Times, August 23, 2006