President's Message: A Plan for a Stronger Local 685

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Thank you for the trust you have placed in me to serve as President of AFSCME Local 685.

This election was about accountability, truth, and putting members first. I am honored to step into this role with the support of a majority of the Executive Board, united in a shared commitment to strengthen our union, restore confidence in its leadership, and fight for strong Probation Department.

The work begins immediately. Here is my plan:

Member Rights and Transparency

Many of you know that I took the 2023 MOU to the AFSCME Judicial Panel and we won. The Panel ruled that the previous Executive Board violated the AFSCME Bill of Rights by failing to provide members with full and pertinent information before the vote. Members were misled. That will not happen again.

We will implement clear standards for transparency on all major decisions, ensure members receive full information before any vote, and reestablish trust in how this union operates.

Financial Accountability

I will immediately initiate a full forensic audit of the union’s finances. Financial accountability is nonnegotiable. The results will be shared with the membership. If funds were misused, there will be consequences.

This union belongs to the members, and every dollar must be protected.

Deployment and Staffing

The transfer language in our contract was misrepresented. I have proven it, and I am already working with attorney Tom Yu to pursue every available avenue to get us out of this agreement and renegotiate our transfer rights.

Forced deployments imposed without informed consent are unacceptable. We will take concrete legal and strategic steps toward restoring fairness in assignments and protecting members from improper transfers.

Pay, Benefits & Promotions

We are underpaid compared to nearly every probation department in California. Our compensation does not reflect the cost of living in Los Angeles or the level of work we perform. We handle more 707(b) and SYTF youth than all other counties combined, yet our total compensation is not competitive.

We will formally request a comprehensive total compensation study through AFSCME examining pay, benefits, and pension statewide. We need honest data, and we will use it to drive negotiations.

We will also address promotional stagnation. Too many officers remain at DPO I for decades while positions are funded at the DPO II level. We will demand real advancement opportunities backed by enforceable language, not promises.

Safety Retirement

We are sworn peace officers performing dangerous and demanding work. We demand safety retirement. State pension law makes this a difficult fight, but it is the right fight.

We will build a coordinated strategy that includes engagement with the department, the Board of Supervisors, and exploration of potential legislative options. This will require discipline and persistence, and we will approach it with both.

Officer Safety

Officer safety comes first. Assaults on staff remain unacceptably high. We will advocate aggressively for operational changes, staffing improvements, and policy reforms that protect our members inside our institutions and in the field.

This fight will take place inside the department, before the Board of Supervisors, in Sacramento, and when necessary, in the courts.

Representation & Legal Defense

Strong representation is a core responsibility of this union. Disciplinary cases involving five days or more will be handled by attorneys. Lesser matters will be addressed by trained stewards who receive proper preparation and support.

We will retain attorney Tom Yu and end the weaponization of representation. I will also implement a routine representation scorecard so members can see measurable results and hold leadership accountable.

Public Relations and Media Strategy

Local 685 members have been unfairly portrayed in the media, often without context, without facts, and without our voices being heard. That must change.

We will develop and implement a proactive and assertive public relations and media strategy. We will actively engage with traditional media outlets and ensure that our perspective is included in coverage affecting our profession.

At the same time, we will expand our direct communication channels. We will utilize platforms such as Substack and Medium to publish detailed, fact-based analysis and position pieces. We will strengthen our use of social media to communicate quickly and directly with members and the public. We will not rely solely on others to tell our story. We will tell it ourselves.

Our messaging will highlight officer safety, staffing shortages, the complexity of supervising 707(b) and SYTF youth, and the professionalism and commitment of our members.

If we want support from the Board of Supervisors, Sacramento, and the community, we must actively shape the narrative. That work begins immediately.

Member Communication & Engagement

A strong union depends on consistent, factual communication and active involvement.

We will build a verified personal email database so every member is reachable. Regular updates will be provided through email, text alerts, mobile app notifications, and both online and in-person general membership meetings. We will restore in-person steward meetings and ensure the union phone system functions properly.

Most importantly, we will create more opportunities for members to step forward, serve, and lead.

What’s Your Role?

Unity and strength come from the members. Elections are over. It is time to put the past in the past and move forward together. We may have had differences, but we all wear the same badge and face the same risks. A strong union is not built on division. It is built on solidarity, participation, and shared purpose. If we stand united, we will be stronger at the bargaining table, stronger in Sacramento, and stronger inside our institutions. Together, we will fight for safety in the workplace, for our rights, and for the respect this profession deserves.

This is not about personalities. It is about restoring strength, accountability, and unity to Local 685. We move forward together.

In solidarity,

Curtis Chambers

President

AFSCME Local 685