36 Sheriff’s Deputies Join ‘Blue Flu’ Action

Thirty-six Orange County sheriff’s deputies participated in a “blue flu” job action Thursday, marking the second time in as many weeks that officers have called in sick to protest an eight-month-long contract dispute over wages and benefits.

This time, 20 deputies and two sergeants from the central men’s jail and 11 investigators, two deputies and one sergeant from the professional standards division called in sick.

The sick-out by jail officers on the 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. shift did not affect safety, but did slow down operations there, said Lt. Dan Martini, a department spokesman.

“There is no enhanced danger for officer or inmate safety there,” Martini said. “But we’re looking at the 10th-largest facility in the state. It’s like a machine and anytime you interrupt that machine, it will have a measurable impact.”

Although all deputies were replaced at the jail, Martini said, the fill-in officers were not familiar with their assignments, which resulted in a work slowdown. No replacements were ordered at the professional standards division, which handles personnel matters and issues business licenses.

The protest was organized by the Assn. of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, which is asking for a three-year contract with a 3.5% pay raise for the second and third years. They are not seeking a raise in the first year.

The county has offered 3% raises for the second and third years, said association general manager Robert MacLeod. He said the county is not sufficiently funding medical and other types of benefits for deputies.

“If current protests don’t work in the next one or two weeks, we will change our tactics and try something more severe,” MacLeod said. He would not comment on other types of protests the association might use but said they would not affect public safety.

Negotiators on both sides have been meeting since August, and deputies have been working since October without a contract.

“The association is still dissatisfied with negotiations but I have to compliment them on the way they’re dealing with county officials--they’ve been very honest in their protest goals,” Martini said. “They are trying to deliver a message to the county without jeopardizing the safety of the community and other deputies.”

On March 3, after the association’s 1,300 members voted to support a job action protest, about 20 sheriff’s deputies from the department’s Northern Division called in sick. Officers were told to call early enough so that the department would have enough time to replace them.