Ruling on Charitable Drives

The Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled that time spent by county employees on behalf of charitable campaigns during business hours should be restricted (Metro, Nov. 3). That decision was based on the court’s perception that “countless hours” are spent for United Way and other charitable organizations on county time. “The public has no idea the extent of taxpayers’ funds (the county) puts into this,” said Judge Dzentra Janavs, as she issued a preliminary injunction on the county’s charitable campaigning.

The judge severely limited charitable fund-raising during work time to 15 minutes at regularly scheduled department meetings. This action on her part would drastically limit employee participation in charitable campaigns. The net result could be a substantial loss of voluntary contributions for vital community services.

Because of the far-reaching adverse implications of this ruling on the community’s health and human service system, the decision should be rescinded.

If allowed to stand, the potential financial loss to the community could seriously impact services essential to helping people in desperate need.

Limiting the participation of county employees puts at risk a minimum of $2.6 million--the amount they pledged last year to support the work of nearly 500 local charities.

Equally as important, the court’s injunction weakens longstanding partnerships between the public and private sectors. These workplace partnerships have been effective in communities across the nation, raising over $2 billion alone for United Way last year. Over two-thirds of United Way funds raised here and in other parts of the country are generated in both the government and corporate workplace.

We would not like to see a community as dynamic and forward-looking as Los Angeles jeopardize a vital culture, within which corporations and employees, management and organized labor, work together to effectively respond to community needs. Based on Judge Janavs’ preoccupation over the amount of “county time” spent on charitable campaigns, the court clearly does not understand or appreciate that the county and its employees are an integral part of this partnership. All share the same mission--providing basic human care for those in need.

Moreover, the court was shortsighted not to recognize the value of charitable campaigns in strengthening the overall delivery of social and community services. County counsel argued appropriately to the court that if services made available through the private sector were taken away, the burden would not vanish but shift to taxpayers.

Clearly the public, private and voluntary sectors have a responsibility to maximize opportunities for employees to support community services--services that can and do benefit employees themselves.

Dollars generated through voluntary campaigns in both the public and private-sector workplace fund hundreds of programs: homeless shelters, children’s services and disaster relief, such as the recent earthquake that devastated areas of Northern California. Thanks to an effective systematic giving mechanism in the workplace United Way was able to channel nearly a half-million dollars to assist victims and their families.

Workplace contributions work in tandem with services underwritten by tax dollars. They leverage county resources. These funds are not “optional extras” as Judge Janavs implied. It is estimated that voluntary agencies provide over 60% of all social services in the greater Los Angeles area. Supporting these services solely through government funding could add a tremendous burden to the tax base--as much as a half-billion dollars annually.

At a time when government appropriations for health and human services are being drastically reduced, it becomes even more critical at this juncture to strengthen the effectiveness of a public/private partnership that we know works well. Dismantling such a valuable infrastructure will only hurt the very people whom the court thinks it is protecting.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON

JAMES P. MISCOLL

Los Angeles

Robertson is executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and a member of the United Way Board of Directors. Miscoll is executive vice president of Bank of America and general chairman of the 1989-90 United Way Campaign.