AFSCME Local 685 Takes Strong Stand in Labor Crisis Over LP Depopulation

AFSCME Local 685 has delivered a strong message to the LA County Board of Supervisors, calling for immediate action in the face of a growing labor crisis within the Probation Department. On June 1, 2025, the Union issued a formal letter demanding that the Board intervene after the Department unilaterally ordered the immediate relocation of all bargaining unit staff from Campus Vernon Kilpatrick (CVK) to the Sylmar Youth Treatment Facility (SYTF) without consulting the Union, a direct violation of their contractual rights. Click here to read letter.

The Union’s leadership decried the disruption caused by the move, which threatens to severely impact service delivery during the busy holiday week and weekend. Officers, many of whom have personal plans, face sudden changes to their work shifts and schedules, prompting the Union to demand an immediate halt to the action. The letter further emphasized the need for the Department to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Union to address the effects of the Los Padrinos depopulation, which has not been properly discussed during ongoing successor contract negotiations.

“This unilateral decision is not only a breach of our rights but also a reckless move that harms our members and the services we provide to the community,” said Stacy Ford, President. “Our members deserve respect, and we will not stand by while the Department undermines their livelihoods and morale.”

AFSCME Local 685’s letter to the Board underscores the Union’s unwavering commitment to defending the interests of its members, ensuring that bargaining rights are honored, and holding the Probation Department accountable for its actions. The Union has called on the Board of Supervisors to intervene, cease the unilaterally imposed changes, and order the Probation Department to return to the bargaining table to resolve these critical issues.

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AFSCME International Scholarships

Members have asked about scholarships offered by AFSCME International and here they are. To learn more about them, go to the AFSCME International website and read about the specifics of each one of them. $2,000 renewable scholarship awarded to high school seniors each year.

Union Plus Scholarship

Active and retiree AFSCME members, spouses and dependent children are eligible to apply. Click here.

Gerald W. McEntee Scholarship

In honor of former AFSCME Pres. Jerry McEntee, this one-time $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to an AFSCME member for use towards higher education. Click here.

Union Scholars

A summer internship program for students of color passionate about social justice and workers’ rights. Click here.

AFSCME Affiliate Scholarship Programs

Many AFSCME affiliates have special scholarship programs designed to help their members pursue educational opportunities to advance on the job and/or enrich their daily lives. Click here.

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It Matters (We Matter)!

By Cookie Lommel

Local 685 members want their voices to be heard and their stories to be shared. That’s why, as they recount their most meaningful memories or standout moments, which they’ve chosen to call “It Matters,” we’re here to share them with you.

If you have a story about a peer who has passed, a memorable experience where you bonded with a co-worker, or simply a story about who you are in the probation environment, several members have expressed a desire to be honored In Their Own Words.

We invite you to hear their voices and celebrate their stories.

Dartella Johnson, Sr. Detention Service Officer – 34 Years

I have spent more than 34 years working with probation youth, with experience at both Central Juvenile Hall and Los Patrinos Juvenile Hall. It was a pleasure to come to work back then because we knew we were making a real difference in the lives of kids who were sometimes forgotten by their families. My job was once deeply rooted in the genuine impact we had on these kids’ lives. Our units didn’t just talk about creating a family-like atmosphere—we lived it.

We paid close attention to the needs of the youth we supervised and introduced concepts that we believed would help them grow and stay on a path toward rehabilitation. One of the things we did regularly was host celebrations—birthday parties, BBQs, talent shows, and holiday events. These gatherings fostered a sense of unity and belonging, both among the youth and the staff. All of these celebrations made everyone feel valued.

We practiced that "family home" environment consistently, something that is often talked about today but was genuinely lived back then. During talent shows, both kids and staff would participate together. We even held facility-wide events for birthdays and BBQs and organized day trips to museums or, occasionally, trips to Las Vegas. I’ll never forget the Staff Breakfast in Boys R Patio, where we brought enough food to feed the entire unit. We always stepped up for each other—if one staff member was ill, we would work overtime. There were no “call outs.”

I recall one Mother’s Day when some of the BMP staff went to the administrators to ask for a donation to include more units in our celebration. They said no, despite having the budget for it. Sometimes it still makes me angry that we can’t do those kinds of things anymore.

We would occasionally visit the Flower Mart and buy flowers so the girls could make flower arrangements to give to all female staff members. We also held special celebrations for male staff—purchasing a family feast for everyone. We truly behaved like a family.

One thing that always stands out is how many of these kids remain part of our family. A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated a young man turning 21 who had been with us for five years. From 6 AM to 10 PM that day, we played his favorite songs, decorated his door, had ice cream and cake for everyone, and arranged a visit with his mother. He came to me afterward to thank us for the special celebration, saying how much he appreciated what the staff had done for him. He came to us when he was 17, and now at 21, he is still a member of the Los Patrinos Juvenile Hall family.

Every Thursday, the kids looked forward to Mr. Guyness’s BBQ. He would take money out of his own pocket to buy the food he knew they loved. They respected and loved Mr. Guyness because he made them feel safe.

DSO Marva Lindsey – 10 Years

After completing my training, I was assigned to the Compound at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, where I was the only female officer in the unit working with high-risk youth. Our programs were structured, and the Day Room was always orderly and quiet. Each youth would go to the bathroom one at a time, and if a youth needed assistance, they would raise their hand as they would in a classroom, and one of the DSOs would go and help them.

In the mornings, the kids were expected to go to the bathroom one at a time. They were motivated to be properly groomed, fully dressed, and to have breakfast before leaving for school. No one wore sweatpants or flip-flops like they do now.

When the kids returned from school, the officers would lead the programs. We had card games, board games, writing programs, and arts activities. Some of the kids discovered hidden talents, realizing they had more to offer than just watching television. Sometimes the kids would sit quietly and listen as officers discussed various topics. The probation department encouraged officers to bring their individual personalities to the job, and we took pride in educating the youth about life. The kids were often fascinated by the things we shared with them.

Then, about seven years ago, we got new management. She saw how smoothly the Compound was running and assumed that it was self-sustaining. As a result, a decision was made to move all the seasoned staff from the Compound to other locations, without realizing that the experienced staff were the reason those units ran so well. Once the strong, committed staff were moved, it became clear that the unit didn’t run itself. By the time management realized the importance of the seasoned staff, the units had already become chaotic.

This shift didn’t happen overnight. The kids today are different, and the commitment of the staff coming in is different as well. The current staff are burned out, and new staff are not receiving proper training. At some of our meetings, community-based organizations claim that the kids are not treated properly and are housed in cages. I’ve been here for eleven years, and I’ve never seen a cage in any of these institutions.

Recently, we had a community-based organization working with the youth when a fight broke out. The community group quickly got up and left, saying they were told not to be near the fight. I guess they didn’t realize that fighting is a part of daily life in a juvenile hall. I wonder how these groups will manage as time goes on.