Deputies Union Agrees to Contract Arbitration

After six months of contract negotiations with the county, the Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs’ Assn. has declared an impasse and agreed to enter into binding arbitration.

The union’s 800 members have worked without a contract since Jan. 1. Under arbitration, both sides agree to allow a neutral third party to rule on issues of contention.

It is unclear how long the process will take.

“We have told the county negotiators from the outset that our goal was to make a deal to maintain average wages and benefits, not to go above average, so it never should have come to this,” said union President Glen Kitzman.