COVID-19 Vaccination Executive Order Issued for LA County Employees |
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PPOA learned late Wednesday (Aug. 4) evening of a new Executive Order requiring all LA County employees to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination by October 1, 2021. This mandate impacts all 110,000 LA County employees, including all active PPOA members.
On Thursday, PPOA executives and legal counsel initiated a review of the Executive Order which was issued publicly via social media by LA County Board Chair Hilda Solis despite making no effort to notify or collaborate with PPOA or any of the labor unions representing County employees.
PPOA has notified the County, Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner of our intent to actively and aggressively assert our bargaining rights to negotiate over the decision of this Executive Order, as well as the impacts of this decision on our membership. Having not yet received any additional information or proposed policies, PPOA awaits further information from the County and its departments to strategize specific responses.
“As PPOA is a collaborative labor partner, we are extremely disappointed in the manner in which this Executive Order was executed without conversation. The definition of labor relations includes communication, of which, our organization and membership were provided NONE. This type of unilateral action is perplexing as PPOA has proven to be cooperating effectively in every aspect of negotiations throughout this pandemic.”
– President Tab Rhodes
PPOA will update our membership when additional information becomes available.
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Employee Relations Commission Hearing |
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August 4: The Unfair Labor Practice charge that was filed
against the County of Los Angeles went to hearing in front of Judge Byron Berry, who was appointed by the parties to provide an independent decision on the merits, or the lack thereof, of the position of 98 LASD Sergeants that they were effectively promoted on April 28, 2020, and as such, should have received pay and all of the emoluments that come with the promotion to Sergeant, from that day forward.
The hearing took place in the PPOA Conference Center and was attended by two attorneys representing the County and Attorney Jim Cunningham representing the 98 Sergeants who are parties to these Unfair Labor Practice charges. Also in attendance was a court reporter and three witnesses, two of which were called by PPOA, one of which was called by the County of Los Angeles.
The hearing concluded after one day, with the parties agreeing that upon receipt of the transcripts of the proceedings, the parties shall submit the final closing briefs to
support their relative positions. Thereafter, Judge Berry (a retired LASD Deputy) will
issue a decision in this matter. If the Sergeants are successful, absent an appeal by the County, they will receive retroactive pay and benefits from April 28 to July 15, 2020, when pay and benefits were finally picked up. If the Sergeants are unsuccessful, the matter will proceed to a hearing on “Acting Pay” which would provide pay for the Sergeants from May 28 to July 15, 2020, under the MOU, inasmuch as they were performing duties of a Sergeant, they should have been paid at the Sergeant's rate.
It is anticipated that we will be receiving the Judge’s decision within the following 90 days.
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PPOA Charitable Events Scheduled for 2022 |
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August 4: Planning committee members for the PPOA Annual Peace Officer Memorial Golf Tournament and the Annual Heroes Ride met on Wednesday to solidify plans to resume both events in 2022. These two events represent the most significant source of support for PPOA's Star & Shield Foundation and unfortunately, both had to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. We are now excited to report that new dates have been selected for next year!
SAVE THE DATES:
PPOA 8th Annual Heroes Ride
Sunday, March 27, 2022
Staging at Hollywood Bowl
Further details TBA
PPOA 14th Annual Peace Officer Memorial Golf Tournament
Sunday, June 6, 2022
Braemar Country Club, Tarzana
Further details TBA
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Fringe Benefits Contract Negotiations |
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August 4/5: PPOA joined negotiations team members from the Coalition of County Unions (CCU) for a Fringe Benefits bargaining session with County executives on Wednesday. These contract negotiations were productive and continued into a second day on Thursday. There appears to be positive movement toward an agreement however negotiations will continue next week. Negotiations participants from PPOA included President Rhodes, Executive Board Member Tony Coleman and Executive Director Quint. |
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Sheriff Discusses Current Events |
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August 4: Sheriff Villanueva hosted a Facebook live stream on Wednesday to discuss current events, including COVID-19 vaccinations, Men's Central Jail, "woke" privileges and more.
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Southern California Alliance of Law Enforcement |
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PPOA Legislative Committee |
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August 5: PPOA board and staff hosted a teleconference with our full-time Sacramento legislative representatives —Lang, Hansen, Giroux and Kidane — to review the status of pending legislation that could potentially impact PPOA members and public safety employees throughout the state. Meeting participants from PPOA included President Rhodes, Executive Director Quint and Legislative Consultant Art Reddy.
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Fraternal Order of Police |
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PPOA is a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the world's largest organization of law enforcement officers, with more than 356,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges nationwide. All active PPOA members are part of California FOP Lodge 1, which represents public safety organizations throughout LA County and operates under the capable leadership of former PPOA President Roger Mayberry.
The Washington Watch is a weekly update provided by the FOP and we encourage PPOA members to check out the latest issue to stay up to date on the legislative news and activity impacting public safety personnel.
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In Memoriam:
RONALD MAUS
Retired Chief, LADA Bureau of Investigation
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PPOA Board Treasurer Robert Maus informed us of the very sad news that his father, Retired LADA Bureau of Investigation Chief Ronald Maus, passed away on August 4, 2021. Chief Maus was a long-time PPOA member who began his career as a deputy sheriff in 1961. He lateraled to the District Attorney's Office in 1963, where the primary focus of his investigative career was organized crime intelligence. Chief Maus' remarkable career spanned three decades and seven District Attorneys — from William McKesson to Gil Garcetti — before he retired in 1993.
PPOA extends our heartfelt condolences to the Maus family and our gratitude to Chief Maus for his lifetime of public service.
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In Memoriam:
RICHARD TRUMKA
AFL-CIO President
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PPOA was saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of longtime AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on Thursday. PPOA's affiliation with the AFL-CIO (via the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association) comes with considerable resources at the federal level and locally via state and county labor federations. Last year, President Trumka was directly responsible for creating a subcommittee on policing to provide a venue for law enforcement workers on issues of public safety reform. President Rhodes was afforded the opportunity to participate in these important discussions. PPOA is thankful for that invitation and for President Trumka's sensible and meaningful leadership with the AFL-CIO, which has 13 affiliate unions representing law enforcement professionals.
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20th Annual PPOA Pre-Labor Day BBQ
& General Membership Meeting
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Please join us on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at Biscailuz Training Academy! |
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