ANAHEIM : Union Official Warns of Police ‘Blue Flu’

On the same day that the city’s new police chief was sworn into office, the president of the police union Tuesday confirmed that officers will hold a “blue flu” walkout to protest their stalled contract negotiations with the city.

The sickout would be the first in Anaheim’s history and underscores the growing rift between management and city employees. The police union as well as the city’s three other employee unions are all working without contracts.

Bruce Bottolfson, president of the Anaheim Police Assn., said the timing of the job action, which will occur for a 24-hour period sometime within the next 10 days, is not a protest against incoming Police Chief Randall Gaston.

Nevertheless, he pointed out that Gaston “is walking into a quagmire.”

Bottolfson declined to say what day the protest will occur or how many officers plan to participate, adding that the officers are demonstrating “to convey our sense of urgency with the council to resolve this contract dispute.”

The police association’s contract with the city expired 18 months ago, and the officers have not had a raise since 1991. They have twice picketed City Hall in the past four months, demanding a 10% raise over two years. The city is offering a 6.5% raise over that period.

“We’ve really tried to put a fair offer on the table,” said City Manager James D. Ruth, “We’re disappointed that they would do this.”

Bottolfson said the union has notified the city that a blue flu was an option it was considering in the face of failed contract negotiations. He said the city’s attorney had informed the union that no injunction will be sought against the sickout but said that none of the participating officers will receive sick pay.

Blue-flu actions have been declared illegal forms of protest by state courts because they violate the state’s ban on police strikes.

The city’s three other unions, the Anaheim Municipal Employees Assn., the Anaheim Firefighters Assn., and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers say they may join the police union’s protests in the future to show solidarity.

Gaston, who was unanimously approved Tuesday to become the city’s new police chief, said he will meet with Bottolfson today to discuss the association’s plans.

“If it happens . . . we have a contingency plan,” Gaston said. The plan includes using officers from neighboring cities and Anaheim’s lieutenants to patrol the city.

“Our objective will be to ensure no interruption of emergency services will take place,” Gaston said.

Gaston, 49, is a 28-year member of the Police Department who has been a captain since 1983. He replaces Joseph T. Molloy, who died of a heart attack in July.

Gaston, who will earn $98,254 annually, is taking over a department with many concerns. In addition to the labor issues, the city has experienced an increase in crime and calls for service.

Over the past five years, homicides are up 84%, robberies up 35% and the number of gangs is up 700%. The population increased 16% during that period.

The City Council, in responding to pressure from the department and residents, has promised to increase the number of sworn officers from 352 to 400 in the next few years, but has not decided how to come up with the $4 million necessary. The members hope the city will be chosen by March for a $2-million federal grant, but officials say the odds are against that.