The Region : Officers Barred on Outside Arbitration

Without debate, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that precludes Los Angeles police officers from seeking outside arbitration on transfers, promotions, probationary employee terminations and other disciplinary actions. The ordinance, which police administrators said was needed to more effectively manage the 7,000-member force, represented a major sticking point during recent contract negotiations between the city and the Los Angeles Police Protective League. The union’s president, George Aliano, criticized the new ordinance, condemning it as an “unfair labor practice.” He said the league intends to file a lawsuit against the city to prevent its implementation.