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President's Message
July 2010
Contract Modification Vote Results
On June 14, 2010, ballots were counted at the SEBA office in regard to the contract modification vote. Of the 2,251 ballots mailed, 1,668 were returned for a 74% participation level. I want to thank everyone who returned their ballots for getting involved in the process.
Because of the dynamics involved with the four different bargaining groups, there needed be an agreement in the results with the Safety and Safety Management Units and the Specialized Peace Officer and Specialized Peace Officer Supervisory Units. The Safety Unit voted to reject the proposed contract modification and the Safety Management Unit voted to accept the modification. Because of pay compaction, layoff and promotional issues, both Units rejected the proposal. The same issues applied to the Specialized Peace Officer and Specialized Peace Officer Supervisory Units. The Specialized Peace Officer Unit voted to reject the proposal and the Supervisory Unit voted to accept the modification. Therefore both Units rejected the modification.
State/County/Local Election Results
SEBA was again very successful during this years Primary election held on June 6th. Thirteen of our endorsed candidates were successful and will either take office in November or be involved in a run-off in the General election.
Three of the more important local races SEBA was heavily involved in were the election of Sheriff, District Attorney, and Superior Court Office #11. Sheriff Hoops won with 67.01% of the voting public supporting him. District Attorney Mike Ramos won with 54.16% of the votes being cast for him. James Hosking won his seat for Superior Court Judge with 66.01% of the votes being registered for him.
Our political action dollars were hard at work in supporting the individuals who support strong public safety and fair working conditions for our members. You might not always agree with the endorsements, but remember those endorsements are made for the betterment of the entire SEBA membership.
Cost Savings Measures
The County did not waste any time in reacting to our action of rejecting the contract modifications. As promised, the cost of our deferred and upcoming negotiated pay raises for the fiscal year of 2010-11 were removed from the recently passed budgets of the Sheriff's Department, District Attorneys Office, and the Probation Department. All three departments are now in the process of trying to develop a budget without those monies.
The Sheriff's Department is in the process of trying to implement budget reductions through multiple cost saving measures. The two that have created the most concern for our members have to do with the proposed 12-hour shifts for patrol and the 12- hour (80 hour work period) in the correction facilities.
On June 16, 2010, SEBA was notified by the Office of the Sheriff in regard to the Department plans to implement a 12-hour schedule with an 80-hour work period for patrol operations effective July 3, 2010. SEBA was not opposed to the Sheriff's Department implementing 12-hour shifts for patrol operations, however to protect the integrity of the "meet and confer" process, it is important to adhere to the language of the M.O.U. On April 19, 2010, SEBA and Sheriff Executive staff members met to discuss a trial period test program for 12-hour shifts at the Twin Peaks and Barstow stations. With the understanding the Sheriff's Department had the absolute right to implement an "8 hour" schedule with a (2) pay period notification, I felt the membership would be willing to examine the feasibility of the 12-hour shift for patrol operations. A 90 day test period was established, beginning May 22, 2010.
The notice received from the Sheriff's Department on June 16, 2010, stated the following; "Effective July 3, 2010, all patrol operations will function on a 12-hour schedule with an 80-hour work period." This is contrary to the agreement reached on April 19, 2010, establishing a test period. Even if the Department was legally able to impose a schedule that had not been agreed to during the "meet and confer" process, they still would not be able to implement the schedule until after a (2) pay period notification.
Surveys were completed at all patrol stations to determine which shift would be more desirable to the patrol workforce. The results of the survey showed 97% of the patrol workforce wanted to transition to a 12-hour work schedule.
SEBA had the same concerns with maintaining the integrity of the process in regard to the change of an 84 hour pay period to an 80 hour pay period without proper notice. The correctional facility representatives are current in the process of surveying the members at those facilities to determine their preference of shifts. We should have the results by July 8th.
The District Attorneys Office originally thought they would need to lay off three District Attorney Investigators to balance their budget, but through the retirement of current members and not filling those positions, the needed savings were made with no reduction in the workforce at this time.
We have just recently been given a proposal from the Probation Department in regard to budget savings that will have a negative impact on our Specialized Peace Officer Units. I do not have all of the details at this date, but their initial plan of action deals with the closing of the West Valley Juvenile Hall Facility within the next year, the layoff of seven Probation Correction Officers by the end of July and the possibility of laying off of an additional 32 Probation Correction Officers by the end of the year. They do have an alternative plan of action SEBA will be discussing with them over the next few days.
I will continue to keep you informed as additional information becomes available. Remember, there is always the possibility of the attempted implementation of additional cost saving measures if the ones already in the works do not generate the needed savings.
Thank You
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the cards, flowers, and kind words in regard to the passing of my mother, Margaret Drake. You have all given me the strength to persevere during these trying times.
During this time of reflection, I have realized our families should be the first priority in our busy lives. Thinking back on what I should have or could have done is too late. I was fortune to have my mom live with me, my wife, and our two boys for the last 12 years. Even though she was in the same house with me, I did not spend as much time with her as I could have. I guess what I am trying to say to each and every one of you is, "Don't take your family members for granted. Before you know it, they will no longer be with us. We can only hope and pray they will be in a better place!"
And as always, last but not least, "Stay safe out there."
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