Today, October 1, 2021, over the continued objections of PPOA and other members of the Coalition of County Unions (CCU), the County distributed its COVID-19 Mandate Policy. This action, and the information contained within these documents, provides concrete evidence to support the CCU’s decision to declare IMPASSE this week regarding the current impact negotiations. As stated previously, PPOA and the CCU continue to maintain a collective stance:
- against any COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate that includes discipline
- continuing to demand accommodation and/or testing options for our members who may not be defined within medical and/or religious exemptions
- continuing to address with the County the unreasonableness of the timeline
Please review any and all documents released during these times of contention carefully. Until further remedies are completed or negotiations are re-engaged, the County is acting unilaterally in issuance of any policy or corrective actions. IF ORDERED by your respective Department (District Attorney, Medical Examiner-Coroner, or Sheriff) to adhere to the policy, non-compliance could result in allegations of insubordination and future discipline. Only you can make this very personal decision. It should be understood that PPOA will continue to represent our members as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the legal defense plan.
PPOA, as an organization, continues to recommend protecting yourselves and colleagues in the workplace by utilizing available personal protective options such as hand sanitizers, masks, as well as the COVID-19 vaccine if you so desire and is permissible within your personal beliefs. The safety of our members and their families is of paramount importance.
HOWEVER, the poorly conceptualized demands of the County mandate ignore good labor relations, logic, and unrecognized consequences to the citizens of Los Angeles County. Adding insult to injury, the breakdown in impact negotiations and the threat of termination to our members, requires PPOA and the CCU to fulfill our duty in defending the labor rights and working conditions of ALL of our members, including those who have decided not to vaccinate.