42 DEPUTIES REPORT SICK; ALL MUST HAVE NOTE.Byline: Peter Hartlaub Daily News Staff Writer Forty-two sheriff's deputies in two courthouses called in sick Friday, and they could be sent home again by way of a quick suspension if they don't have a note from their doctor Monday. Officials said the deputies' sickout sick·out n. An organized job action in which employees absent themselves from work on the pretext of illness. was a ``minimal'' inconvenience to staff at the courthouses, but a sheriff's spokesman said they face suspension anyway if they didn't have a legitimate reason to miss work. ``The department is requiring deputies to bring a note from a medical doctor to verify (1) To prove the correctness of data. (2) In data entry operations, to compare the keystrokes of a second operator with the data entered by the first operator to ensure that the data were typed in accurately. See validate. if they are sick,'' deputy Bob Killeen said. ``Every deputy is being told this when they call in.'' The deputies are protesting what their union calls an ``insulting'' pay raise offer by the county. They have been calling in sick in droves for eight days, although the Van Nuys and San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. courthouses - both in Van Nuys - weren't directly affected until Friday. Sheriff's Sgt. Noel Lanier said 30 of 89 deputies assigned as·sign tr.v. as·signed, as·sign·ing, as·signs 1. To set apart for a particular purpose; designate: assigned a day for the inspection. 2. to the Van Nuys courthouse called in sick. Seven of 12 deputies called in sick at the San Fernando courthouse, which is at a temporary location in Van Nuys. Courtrooms weren't shut down because of a lack of deputies, officials said. Killeen said deputies who don't have a note are ``subject to suspension,'' adding that ``each situation is being decided on its own merits.'' Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Superior Court Judge Ricardo Torres Ricardo Torres (born February 16, 1980), is a boxer from Magangué, Bolívar, Colombia, and current WBO world junior welterweight champion. Turning Professional Torres began boxing professionally in 2001 and had a torrid streak of 28 consecutive victories with 26 KO's ruled Friday that the Sheriff's Department can immediately suspend deputies without pay if they don't have a legitimate reason for calling in sick. The union claims deputies are entitled en·ti·tle tr.v. en·ti·tled, en·ti·tling, en·ti·tles 1. To give a name or title to. 2. To furnish with a right or claim to something: to prior notice before a suspension. Union lawyer Richard Shinee said Sheriff Sherman Block can suspend the deputies involved in the alleged sickout without notice, but he said the judge ruled that prior notice is required in all discipline not related to the sickout. Assistant County Counsel Donovan Main said deputies who don't have a legitimate reason to call in sick can be suspended sus·pend v. sus·pend·ed, sus·pend·ing, sus·pends v.tr. 1. To bar for a period from a privilege, office, or position, usually as a punishment: suspend a student from school. without pay, be reprimanded or face ``step reductions'' that could influence bonuses. The San Fernando courthouse opened 50 minutes late, at 8:20 a.m., and the Van Nuys courthouse opened at 8:30 a.m., said Los Angeles Superior Court spokeswoman Jerrianne Hayslett. She said all courtrooms opened on time, except for one family court in the San Fernando courthouse that opened a half-hour late. Lanier said deputies at other courthouses were reassigned to the Van Nuys and San Fernando branches. |
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