Article 15 Transfer Rights Grievance Moves to Expedited Arbitration Brothers and Sisters, I want to provide an important update on the Union’s grievance challenging the involuntary transfer of Deputy Probation Officer IIs under Article 15, Section 2 of the MOU. First, it is important to remember why we filed this grievance in the first place. The Union’s position is that the Article 15 language now being used to involuntarily transfer members came from a fraudulently represen

Brothers and Sisters, AFSCME Local 685 has continued to meet in good faith with County management in an effort to resolve the proposed Civil Service Rule (CSR) changes. We have approached these discussions professionally and constructively, and we have been good partners throughout the process. Despite those ongoing negotiations, the Board of Supervisors appears prepared to move forward with Agenda Item #22 at 1:00 PM today. Agenda Item #22 would authorize significant changes

Your Executive Board has received numerous questions from members regarding the Department’s notice of a mandatory weekly eight-hour overtime shift for employees assigned to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall (LPJH). Today, the Executive Board met with Chief Deputy of Operations Robert Arcos and his team, including Monica Gastelum, Superintendent of the Central Scheduling Unit, and representatives from Employee Relations, to discuss the mandatory overtime requirement. The Department

Message from Attorney Tom Yu: The Union has achieved an important legal victory on behalf of one of our members. A Deputy Probation Officer II had been criminally prosecuted for allegedly submitting fraudulent medical documentation to the Department. After the District Attorney’s Office declined our request to voluntarily dismiss the case, the Union moved forward with a formal motion before the court. Following arguments from both sides at today’s hearing, the judge agreed wi

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to participate in my doctoral research survey. To give more members an opportunity to participate, the survey deadline has been extended. Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from many members who recognize the importance of this research. I’ve also seen a few comments questioning why the President of Local 685 is conducting this study. The answer is simple. This research is focused on leadership,

One of the priorities established by the new Local 685 Executive Board has been building stronger working relationships with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. As part of that effort, Local 685 President Curtis Chambers recently met individually with Supervisors Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn, Lindsey Horvath, and Hilda Solis. These introductory meetings were designed to establish open lines of communication, introduce the new leadership of Local 685, and discuss the i

The Local 685 Executive Board will soon meet with California State Senator Bob Archuleta, author of Senate Bill 1157, to discuss issues affecting probation professionals and the future of juvenile rehabilitation in California. As part of those discussions, Local 685 encourages members to review SB 1157 and provide feedback, concerns, and recommendations based on their firsthand experience working with youth and young adults. Your input will help ensure that Local 685 brings t

Brothers and Sisters, We want to provide an important update regarding the Union’s grievance challenging the involuntary transfer of Deputy Probation Officer IIs under Article 15, Section 2 of the Memorandum of Understanding. As many members know, Attorney Tom Yu filed a Grievance General in Character (GIC) on behalf of affected members concerning transfer rights and the County’s authority to involuntarily transfer DPO IIs under the circumstances outlined in the grievance. Th

Sisters and Brothers, For years, many of us have lived with the pain of seeing our profession publicly vilified and our co-workers – both active and retired – unfairly painted with a broad brush. We have watched friends and colleagues endure accusations they were never given the opportunity to confront, while their names, reputations, and decades of honorable service were called into question. After multiple news reports and ongoing action by our unions regarding these questi

AFSCME Local 685 is only as strong as the members who step forward to get involved. As our profession faces unprecedented challenges, we are launching several member-driven committees designed to strengthen our union, protect our profession, and give members a direct voice in shaping the future of probation. Whether your passion is officer safety, public advocacy, or communications, there is a place for you to contribute. Click here to sign up now! Advocacy Committee Th

The AFSCME Local 685 Executive Board is pleased to report that AB 2419 (Quirk-Silva), the proposed legislation mandating body-worn cameras inside Los Angeles County juvenile facilities, failed to advance out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. From the beginning, your Local 685 Executive Board made a commitment to listen directly to the membership. We also recognized that the legislation, which was designed and strongly supported by the Professional Managers Association

The L.A. County Probation Oversight Commission (POC) will be holding a special meeting on Monday addressing ongoing issues within the Probation Department, including staffing, operations, and conditions throughout the system. It is critical that policymakers and oversight bodies hear directly from the people doing the work. Click here for meeting agenda. When: Monday, May 11, 2026, 9:00 A.M. Where: St. Anne’s Conference & Event Center, 155 North Occidental Blvd., L.A. 900

Nominations and elections for delegates to the 47th AFSCME International Convention in Chicago, originally scheduled for May 14th, has been rescheduled. Nominations and elections will now be held on June 11th during the General Membership Meeting. We will keep you updated.

Yesterday’s article (click here) highlights growing concerns about staffing and supervision, while noting that some still believe the system may be holding together. The reality is, no one understands conditions in the field better than the officers doing the work. We cannot allow decisions to be made based on incomplete or inaccurate narratives. Read the article, then take a minute to share your frontline experience. Your testimony will help ensure the full picture is unders

The time has come for the AFSCME’s 47th International Convention, which will be held in Chicago from August 17–21. Click here to learn more. AFSCME Local 685 will be accepting nominations for delegates and alternates to attend the Convention. Delegates will be elected at the May 14, 2026, General Membership Meeting. If you are interested in representing Local 685, we encourage you to participate in the nomination and election process. All active Local 685 members in good

The AFSCME Local 685 Executive Board is pleased to announce a new member benefit designed to protect you and your family when it matters most: TEAMLEGAL Legal Defense Coverage. This program provides comprehensive legal protection for duty-related matters, giving members access to experienced attorneys and financial support in the event of legal challenges arising from the job. Coverage Includes: Civil representation for duty-related matters Criminal defense for duty-rel

Today, AFSCME Local 685 joined AFSCME Local 1967, AFSCME Council 36, and the Coalition of County Unions in a meeting with County management to address the County’s proposed changes to Civil Service Rules impacting sworn probation staff. This meeting did not happen by accident. It was convened at the request of multiple members of the Board of Supervisors after a unified push from the broader labor community, including Local 685, Local 1967, Council 36, the Supervising Deput

Action Needed: DPO II Hall Deployments – Union Grievance Update Dear Sisters and Brothers, Attorney Tom Yu is moving forward with a union-wide grievance on behalf of all DPO IIs who were forced to be reassigned or deployed to the Halls. This grievance is not related to discipline. It is focused specifically on protecting your transfer rights under the MOU. We are now compiling a complete list of every impacted DPO II. Once finalized, the union will file a combined gri

Brothers and Sisters, This week, Local 685 President Curtis Chambers, alongside Supervising Deputy Probation Officers’ Union President Reggie Torres, took our fight directly to a statewide audience with a published op-ed in CalMatters addressing the County’s $4 billion sexual abuse settlement. Click here to read. This was not just commentary. It was a continuation of the formal action union leadership took in our March 26 letter to state leaders (click here), where we war

Dear Sisters and Brothers, A significant number of criminal cases tied to the so-called “gladiator fights” and alleged sex abuse prosecutions against members are now being dismissed. Click here to read today’s LA Times article “‘Gladiator fight’ cases against L.A. juvenile hall staffers are falling apart.” Click here to read the LA Times article “False sex abuse claim filed ‘without consent’ in L.A.’s $4-billion settlement, man says.” As these high-profile cases con