Countywide : 20 Sheriff Deputies Out With ‘Blue Flu’

About 20 sheriff’s deputies participated in a “blue flu” job action Thursday to protest an eight-month-long contract dispute with the county over wages and benefits.

A spokesman for rank-and-file deputies called the demonstration a success and promised similar protests every week until the county improves its contract offer.

“The county needs to get the message,” said Robert MacLeod, general manger of the Assn. of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs. “This shows them that the deputies are dissatisfied.”

County officials said the job action did not affect police service and would not affect negotiations. Currently, the Sheriff’s Department has no plans to investigate the deputies for improper use of sick leave, officials said.

“The action had no effect on our protection of the communities. If there was any impact it would be financial,” said Lt. Dan Martini, noting that the department had to pay overtime to deputies filling in for those who called in sick.

The deputies have been working without a contract since last October. Negotiators from the association and county have been meeting since August to reach a new contract.

MacLeod said the protest was kept small because the deputies did not want their actions to have “any adverse impact on the public.”

“We don’t have a quarrel with the public. We believe they support us,” he said.

The protest occurred during the day shift and was held in the department’s North Division, which includes Rossmoor, Midway City and Lemon Heights. Eleven patrol deputies and 10 detectives called in sick. The deputies were told to call in sick several hours before their shifts so the department would have enough time to replace them in the field, MacLeod said.

The association’s 1,300 members overwhelmingly supported the job action, MacLeod said.

The deputies are asking for a three-year contract with a 3.5% pay raise for the second and third years. The deputies are not asking for a raise in the first year.

“We’re trying to be sympathetic to the county’s alleged financial plight,” MacLeod said.

The county has offered 3% raises for the second and third years. Additionally, MacLeod said, the county is not sufficiently funding the deputies’ medical and other benefits.

Judy Davis, chief of employee relations, declined to discuss the negotiations. She said that union officials have not formally rejected the county’s offer but acknowledged that Thursday’s protest was “definitely an indication” of their displeasure.