Deputy Union to Consider Strike Fund

Frustrated by stalled contract talks, the Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Assn. is proposing to establish a strike fund in preparation for a possible walkout--even though county officials warn such a move would be illegal.

Association President Glen Kitzmann said union members are so frustrated with the pace of negotiations, which have lingered for months, that they will meet Nov. 13 to discuss an increase in union dues to pay for a strike fund.

“County supervisors have failed to support any good-faith negotiations,” said a union flier promoting the meeting. “The time has come for action.”

Supervisors lashed out at union leaders for fueling strike talks at a time when law enforcement agencies throughout the nation are on alert because of terrorist attacks on the East Coast. Security within the county is more important than ever, officials said.

“Given all the things we have to do to make sure county buildings are safe and citizens are safe, we have some heavy duty issues in front of us,” Supervisor Judy Mikels said. “I would hope they are not trying to play on the emotions of the public due to the events of Sept. 11.”

Supervisor John Flynn agreed. “They are putting national security in second place to their salaries and benefits. It’s no time to be talking like that.”

Kitzmann said he is fully aware that this is a critical time for the country and that thought is not lost on union members.

“That’s what makes this a very difficult decision for us to make,” Kitzmann said. “We don’t want to jeopardize the public. The public is not doing this. But the county is backing us into a corner.

“Our members are the front line of safety in this community,” Kitzmann said. “We’re the first ones supervisors call when they need a bomb squad to check out their meeting room to make sure it’s safe. But we’re the last ones they think of when it comes to putting any effort into solving our negotiation problems.”

State law forbids a public employee from striking, if walking off the job would affect public health or safety, said County Counsel Frank Sieh. That effectively prevents police officers and sheriff’s deputies from refusing to work, even during contentious labor negotiations.

Kitzmann said he isn’t convinced the law would stand up to scrutiny, arguing it may not be constitutional. He cited a state regulation requiring that both sides agree to binding arbitration if contract talks break down. But when the deputies requested binding arbitration earlier this year, the county filed and won a lawsuit declaring a mediation panel unconstitutional.

If binding arbitration is illegal, then possibly so are rules barring deputies from striking, Kitzmann said. Binding arbitration was intended to solve contract disputes while keeping law enforcement employees on the job.

County officials would seek an injunction from the court to force striking deputies back to work, Sieh said. If that were to happen, Kitzmann said, his members would honor such an order.

The union is demanding that deputies receive raises whenever pay for law enforcement in surrounding counties increases. They also want expanded retirement benefits, allowing a deputy with 25 years of service to retire at age 50 with 75% of his or her pay. Currently deputies, who earn between $41,939 and $58,552, are entitled to 50% of their pay as a pension.