Deputies Expand Sickout

For the third consecutive day, scores of Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies participated in a sickout--but this time the numbers and stakes increased markedly, with about 275 deputies assigned to Men’s Central Jail and the adjacent Twin Towers jail failing to show up for work Friday morning and afternoon.

County officials say they are also being inundated with hundreds of calls from sheriff’s deputies, part of an effort to pressure them to meet union demands for a 15% percent pay increase over the next three years.

In addition, officials say, county staffers have received numerous anonymous calls from people using lewd and profane language. Sheriff’s officials say law officers assigned to the Board of Supervisors’ security detail have launched an investigation to determine whether any of the calls are coming from deputies.

“If deputies are involved in that activity, talk about lack of professionalism,” said Sheriff Sherman Block. “That kind of activity is juvenile in nature. I don’t know how else to classify it.”

Officials of the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs--who have denied responsibility for the work actions--declined to comment on the sickout Friday. In a taped message on the union’s hotline, however, association leaders told members to “stand firm.”

“Don’t let management threaten you or any other [association] member,” the message said. “Their goal is to only break up our solidarity. . . . Remember to support your fellow members and other county union members.”

The labor dispute between the county and the sheriff’s deputies has been simmering for months. But in the wake of a recent county offer of a 1.5% pay increase, the deputies decided to take action this week.

On Friday, about 160 deputies called in sick for the day shift at Men’s Central Jail and Twin Towers, and 115 more failed to report for the night shift. Sheriff’s officials said deputies who were on the Thursday night shift were held to work overtime Friday morning. Deputies who showed up as scheduled Friday morning were being kept overtime to supervise the massive jail facilities into the night.

*

Earlier this week, 41 of 61 deputies who provide courthouse security at four Westside locations called in sick, as did 45 deputies assigned to courthouses in Compton and Lynwood.

The sickouts slowed court and jail operations considerably. It took staff about an hour longer than usual to transport female inmates to their morning court appearances Friday, while deputies had difficulty feeding the inmates at Twin Towers and Men’s Central, officials said.

Nevertheless, Sheriff’s Custody Chief Barry King sought to minimize the impact of the sickout. Jail operations, he said, were “running well.”

Meanwhile, 68 of the county’s 82 safety police officers assigned to patrol welfare offices and the county Hall of Administration also called in sick Friday, county officials said.

Job actions were expected to continue next week, with sheriff’s officials concerned that the next case of “blue flu” could involve deputies responsible for busing inmates to court--a move that could cripple the court system because, with their specialized licenses, the drivers would be difficult to replace. Officials were working on a contingency plan late Friday.

While sheriff’s officials say they understand the frustration of the deputies--who have been working for three years without a new contract--they object to their tactics.

“They are certainly entitled to [a raise] after three years, as are all of our employees,” Block said. “But to engage in an activity that interferes with our ability to complete our mission is unprofessional. We are looking at each individual act carefully.”

County officials also criticized the sickouts, particularly because they say their negotiating team has been trying to get the unions back to the bargaining table since last week with no luck.

*

Board of Supervisors Chairman Zev Yaroslavsky said the county made an initial offer of a three-year package and that unions of county employees--led by deputies association leader Bud Treece--refused to submit a counteroffer before walking away and threatening to participate in job actions.

“For years we could not offer anything” in the form of a pay increase because of the county’s dire financial condition, Yaroslavsky said. “The first time we offer something, we have labor unrest. What kind of signal does that send?

“We intend to be fair and as generous as we can with our employees within the parameters of fiscal responsibility--and there is a deal to be made here,” he said. “But blue flus and harassing and obscene phone calls to female employees who work for us is not a way to get a deal.”

County officials said each of the Board of Supervisors offices has been getting up to 470 harassing, intimidating and lewd messages a day. The offices have also been flooded with “hang-up” calls.

“As a citizen as well as a county supervisor, some of the behavior we have witnessed is just unacceptable,” Yaroslavsky said. “This is no way for grown men and women to behave. It is childish, it is irresponsible and it is counterproductive--and illegal.”