SR Holguin, PC is a union-side labor and employment law firm with nearly four decades of experience representing private sector unions, public sector unions, and multi-employer trust funds. SR Holguin, PC is committed to providing full-service legal representation to each of our clients.
One way in which SR Holguin, PC ensures our clients and their members stay informed is by keeping you updated on recent developments relating to workers’ rights. Today’s updates come following the release of the March 9, 2021 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting agenda and supplemental agenda. There are two items in particular that could impact you.
- Workers Who Could be Impacted: LA County Employees
Agenda item 8 “Enhanced County Employee Election Worker Program”
A Motion will be introduced by Supervisors Sheila Kuehl (3rd District) and Kathryn Barger (5th District). The Motion provides in part “[d]espite new challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) administered a highly successful…[e]lection in November 2020…A vital contributor to the success of this election was the use of County employees as Election Workers.
On August 4, 2020, in response to…challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board approved…the use of County Disaster Service Workers (DSW). The Board directed the RR/CC to temporarily suspend the voluntary County Employee Poll Worker Program and instead adopt the County DSW Election Worker Program, which included mandatory staffing from departments to ensure the County had sufficient Election Worker staffing during the pandemic. The DSW Program proved to be extremely successful with participation by all County departments and resulted in the recruitment and assignment of 7,400 County employees…The RR/CC made recommendations to modify the County Employee Poll Worker Program based on the learnings from the DSW Program, including implementing Departmental assignment thresholds and creating more flexibility in shifts and number of days worked to facilitate and encourage maximum participation…The continued need for the interim DSW Election Worker program during the COVID-19 pandemic is imperative with a possible Statewide Gubernatorial Recall Election later this year. This Board should ensure that the RR/CC has access to County DSWs to provide the necessary staffing resources while the County Employee Poll Worker Program is being revised.”
Therefore, the Motion calls for “the Board of Supervisors [to] direct the Registrar- Recorder/County Clerk, in collaboration with the Chief Executive Office, Department of Human Resources, and County Counsel to report back in 120 days with a revised program and corresponding ordinance for the County Employee Election Worker Program to replace the existing program/ordinance for County Employee Poll Workers that includes Departmental thresholds and creates greater flexibility in shifts and number of days worked by County employees.” The Motion also called for “the Board of Supervisors [to] extend the Board’s action from August 4, 2020, to continue the County DSW Election Worker Program for any Countywide elections prior to adoption of the new Ordinance.”
Now, agenda item 8 of the March 9, 2021 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting calls for the Board to consider the Motion.
2. Workers Who Could be Impacted: AFSCME Local 1902 Members
Supplemental Agenda Item 56-G “Five-Signature Letter to Support AFSCME 1902 Workers”
A Motion will be introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn (4th District). The Motion provides in part “An LA Times investigation last month revealed a workplace culture at the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California plagued with rampant sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination, and retaliation, particularly for women and LGBTQIA+ people. These essential workers build and manage the water infrastructure the County relies on, often in remote locations away from their families. The review initiated by the MWD Board is a good first step to investigate the claims of sexual harassment, but a full, comprehensive investigation into all alleged incidents of abuse at the MWD is necessary to not only achieve justice for those abused, but to change the culture and ensure incidents of misconduct are taken seriously.”
Therefore, the Motion calls for “the Board of Supervisors [to] direct the Chief Executive Officer to send a five-signature letter to Assemblymember Rudy Salas Jr., Chair, and Senator John Laird, Vice Chair, of the California State Assembly Joint Legislative Audit Committee, with a copy to the Committee members to request a State Audit in order to have a comprehensive investigation into the allegations and concerns regarding the workplace culture surrounding the women and LGBTQIA+ employees who work in Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.”
Now, supplemental agenda item 56-G of the March 9, 2021 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting calls for the Board to consider the Motion.
The Employees Association of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 1902 “is a Union that represents the working men and women of Southern California water districts.” The Management and Professional Employees Association of the Metropolitan Water District, AFSCME, Local 1001 represents the management and professional employees of the…Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.”
We hope these updates are helpful to you.
Fraternally,
SR Holguin, PC