Board of Supervisors Delays Vote; Directs County to Meet With Unions

Brothers and Sisters,

Today, our strategy delivered results.

After coordinated advocacy by AFSCME Local 685, the Supervising Deputy Probation Officers’ Union, Professional Managers Association, AFSCME Council 36, and the Coalition of County Unions (CCU), the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors held Agenda Item #12 for 30 days and directed the County to meet with the unions representing Probation staff.

This did not happen by accident. It happened because we made it clear – firmly and collectively –  that these proposed changes impact negotiable working conditions and cannot move forward without bargaining.

👉 Read Local 685’s letter

👉 Read the Coalition’s letter

As a reminder, the proposal included sweeping changes that would:

• Allow discipline to be based entirely on hearsay

• Double probationary periods from 12 to 24 months

• Double unpaid suspension time from 30 to 60 days

• Allow unpaid suspension based solely on an accusation

• Limit the ability to challenge discipline and termination

• And make additional changes to disciplinary procedures

These are significant issues, and we made sure the Board understood that.

At the same time, I – along with the entire Executive Board – was in active bargaining preparation with our legal team and partners as we head into contract negotiations with the County this week. This fight is happening on multiple fronts, and we are fully engaged on all of them.

We have been engaging Board offices and building pressure from the moment we were seated as your Executive Board. Today’s action shows that approach is working.

Now the County has been directed to meet with us.

Your Executive Board is heading into bargaining, and this is exactly where these discussions belong – at the table, where your rights and working conditions are negotiated.

Make no mistake: this is a step forward, not the end of the fight.

We will continue to push, hold the line, and fight for you – your rights, your safety, and your future in this profession.

Stay engaged. Stay united.

The pressure worked – and we are just getting started.

In solidarity,

Curtis Chambers

President, AFSCME Local 685