OFFICIALS GEAR UP FOR HUGE SICKOUT.Byline: Michelle Rester and Bill Hetherman Staff Writers The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department This article is about the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department, not to be confused with the smaller Los Angeles County Police The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a local law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. is expected to reactivate re·ac·ti·vate v. 1. To make active again. 2. To restore the ability to function or the effectiveness of. re·ac its Emergency Operations Bureau on Monday night, preparing for what could be the department's most significant sickout sick·out n. An organized job action in which employees absent themselves from work on the pretext of illness. yet. For weeks, hundreds of deputies have called in with the blue flu blue flu n. A sickout, especially by uniformed police officers. [From the blue color of most police officers' uniforms.] in protest of stalled contract negotiations. The largest group of them is expected to call in sick Tuesday, the day after the Columbus Day Columbus Day, holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus's discovery of America. It has been traditionally celebrated on Oct. 12 throughout most of the United States, parts of Canada, and in several of the Latin American republics. holiday, sheriff's and county officials confirmed Friday. ``We've alerted all administrative offices and have canceled some days off,'' said Assistant Sheriff Larry Waldie, who added that the information is coming from a slew of sources. The emergency center will open at 6 p.m. Monday. Sheriff's officials will monitor courts and stations in need of deputies and redirect employees to fill the gaps, officials said. The Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs did not return calls for comment Friday. Deputies are seeking a 3 percent pay raise over each of the next three years, plus other improvements in benefits. Meanwhile, supervising judges countywide are being told to keep criminal case calendars light Tuesday, Superior Court spokesman Alan Parachini said Friday. ``We have heard rumors some kind of job action might occur Tuesday so we have a contingency process in place already,'' Parachini said. `Our objective is to keep as many operations going as possible.'' Deputies staged sickouts Tuesday and Wednesday at the courthouses in West Covina and El Monte, as well as the two in Pomona. Backup deputies were sent in from other locations and the courts conducted limited operations. No cases had to be dismissed, East District Supervising Judge George Genesta said. The county Board of Supervisors The examples and perspective in this article or section may represent an unduly geographically limited view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. The Board of Supervisors is the body governing counties in the U.S. also has secured a temporary restraining order temporary restraining order: see injunction. to try to prevent the deputies' actions. The supervisors also have given the sheriff authority to dock pay and conduct other forms of discipline for non-excused absences. So far, no disciplinary action has been taken. Michelle Rester, (626) 962-8811 michelle.rester(at)sgvn.com Bill Hetherman, (626) 962-8811 bill.hetherman(at)sgvn.com |
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