The State - News from Nov. 28, 1986

Some of the 39 striking Madera County sheriff’s deputies ate their Thanksgiving Day dinners in front of the homes of several county supervisors to draw attention to their labor dispute. About 10 families of officers, all of whom were fired Nov. 12 for walking off their jobs six days earlier, set up a table in the street in front of Supervisor Gail MacIntyre’s home in Madera. Several carried signs, one of them reading, “Let’s Talk Turkey.” The peace officers claim to be among the lowest paid peace officers in the state. Supervisors broke off talks earlier in the year and imposed a 4% pay increase. The deputies were fired Nov. 12, although supervisors have offered to hire them back at their former ranks and salaries, but without seniority. Deputies unanimously rejected that proposal. They said they would return minus three weeks pay, but not without restored seniority, said spokesman Dick Castle.