LA County Supervisors Violate Our Contract, Order Chief to Begin Transfer of Youth Who Committed Serious Crimes (707b offenses) to Kilpatrick Without Safety Modifications; Legal Action Filed Today
Dear Sisters and Brothers and Sisters,
On Tuesday, Sept. 6, the Board of Supervisors voted to ignore our rights under our union contract and the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA) by ordering the Chief Probation Officer to begin the transfer of DJJ youth to Campus Kilpatrick…despite the fact that we are in bargaining over officer safety on this very issue. Today, Local 685 took the first step to stop this illegal action by filing an Unfair Labor Practice charge against the County for violating our rights and are analyzing other legal options available to us.
But this is more than a legal fight – this is also a political fight, and we need every single Local 685 member to step up and make your voice heard! We have many supporters, including crime victim groups, the 30,000-employee strong Coalition of County Unions, the 800,000 union member strong L.A. County Federation of Labor, the Coalition of Probation Unions, AFSCME Council 36, and the 1.6 million member AFSCME International Union – just to name a few.
Here’s how to get involved:
(1) The City of Malibu, which is in Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s district, has made clear that they are opposed to moving youth who committed serious crimes (707b offenses) to Kilpatrick without major modifications to the open cottage setting designed for low-risk offenders – which is exactly the issue we have raised with the County.
CALL TO ACTION: We are urging all available members to speak at the next VIRTUAL Malibu City Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 12, starting at 6:30 PM. Click here to let us know that you are ready to speak outand we will email and/or text you the details and suggested talking points.
(2) At a time when Probation officers are experiencing escalating injuries as we do our best to protect the public and stop the youth in our care from seriously hurting each other, Supervisors Kuehl and Mitchell are cutting backroom deals to contract out Probation work to non-union, low-wage service providers. Their “death of a thousand cuts” agenda is hurting the youth, hurting us, and putting the public in real danger.
CALL TO ACTION: Sign the “Petition of NO CONFIDENCE of L.A. County Supervisors Kuehl & Mitchell” today! Click here to sign the petition and share broadly.
This is only the beginning. This is a fight for our jobs, our safety, and our profession!!!
In Solidarity,
Hans Liang