Update on Chief’s Staffing Memorandum and Next Steps

Sisters and Brothers,

We are aware that Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa has issued a department-wide memorandum regarding staffing adjustments and the reassignment of full-duty peace officers to juvenile facilities. 

Your Union Executive Board is actively reviewing the directive and its impacts on our members. We will be meeting and conferring with the Chief Executive Office, which is the authorized agent on behalf of the Board of Supervisors. The impacts of the reassignments are within the scope of representation and therefore are a mandatory subject of bargaining under California Government Code 3500-3511.  Impact bargaining with the Chief Executive Office is required prior to implementation.

We understand that this announcement raises significant concerns across the membership. While we do not support decisions that place additional strain on the workforce or disrupt established assignments, we must also recognize the broader context. The County is under intense scrutiny and is taking steps aimed at avoiding a potential receivership over juvenile services. Such an outcome could have serious and far-reaching consequences for our profession, our jobs, and the future of probation in Los Angeles County.

Contract negotiations are scheduled to begin next week. We will be laser focused on advancing proposals that directly address the Department’s ongoing staffing crisis, including improving recruitment and retention in light of the current 28% vacancy rate. CEO administered County Code special emergency case rates (6.10.050) are critical to addressing the staffing shortage, as well as staffing ratios, special assignment and other compensation adjustments for retention of experienced juvenile and field officers. We will also be pushing for financial incentives that make reassignment to higher-risk and more demanding assignments more attractive and sustainable for existing employees. Keep your eye out for a survey to help guide our negotiations process in light of these serious challenges.

In addition, we will be highlighting the serious public safety implications of significantly reducing community supervision operations, and continuing our efforts to secure safety retirement for our members.

Our focus is to protect our members while navigating the current reality. That means holding the Department accountable to our MOU, ensuring that impacts are addressed, and advocating for safe and reasonable working conditions.

We will continue to keep you informed as discussions move forward.

In solidarity,

AFSCME Local 685 Executive Board