Wages Versus Respect: Fighting for a Fair Contract

As president of PPOA, I have had the honor of leading our Unit 612 Negotiations Team through more than eight months of grueling contract talks with County and Department executives. Several of our other bargaining units have recently begun their initial efforts to start their negotiations processes. From the outset, our goal has been simple: to secure a fair and equitable successor Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that respects the value of our public safety professionals. Unfortunately, what we have encountered instead is a staggering lack of respect for our work, our safety and our future.

The County’s initial offer of a 0% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all County employees was nothing short of a slap in the face. Thanks to the powerful turnout by PPOA members and allies at the April 15 Board of Supervisors meeting, we have pushed the needle — albeit slightly — toward incremental COLAs in the second and third years. This movement, however minimal, underscores the importance of standing united. Still, the latest proposals fail to meaningfully acknowledge the daily risks our members face, or the impacts of understaffing, emotional burnout and low morale.

We understand the County is facing financial challenges, particularly from the recent wildfires and the enormous $4 billion settlement stemming from AB 218. But let us be clear: the County has not once claimed a legitimate financial inability to pay us what we are due. Instead, it has chosen to ignore the crisis unfolding within our ranks — where staffing is critically low, morale is plummeting and mental health struggles are rising. These are not abstract policy issues; these are real-world threats to the safety and stability of Los Angeles County.

Our response? Fight back — with strategy and unity. We are deploying a multi-pronged approach to ensure PPOA members are treated with dignity and the compensation they deserve. Here is how: 

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY: PUSHING FOR SB 577

PPOA has been actively supporting Senate Bill 577, proposed by Senator John Laird, which seeks to bring balance to the legal landscape created by AB 218. This bill does not abandon victims — it simply raises the legal standard for pursuing decades-old claims, protecting counties from catastrophic financial liabilities while still honoring the rights of survivors. If passed, SB 577 would provide relief to Los Angeles County and potentially free up hundreds of millions of dollars annually — funds that could and should be reinvested into public safety wages and staffing.

I have met directly with policy advisors from Senators Seyarto, Caballero and Gonzalez — all members of the State Senate’s Public Safety Committee — to emphasize our support for this bill. Our message was simple: we cannot secure the future of public safety if we bankrupt the departments responsible for it. 

DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH COUNTY LEADERS

Face-to-face advocacy matters. I have recently and personally met with Supervisors Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn, Hilda Solis and Lindsey Horvath to make it clear: PPOA members have sacrificed too much to be ignored. These conversations have been respectful but candid. We have reminded them that public safety does not take a day off — and neither should their commitment to fairly compensating the professionals who uphold it.

When policymakers see our members not as line items but as people — parents, veterans and first responders — the conversation begins to change.

BACKING SHERIFF LUNA’S PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

We are also proud to stand in support of Sheriff Robert Luna’s proposals to address chronic understaffing and low morale. His plan includes a deferred retirement plan — already proven effective at LAPD — and a comprehensive approach to fund workforce shortages. With the Department operating at roughly 75% of the staffing levels needed, Luna’s proposals are not only practical, but essential. These solutions directly support the same goals PPOA is fighting for: retention, morale and respect — all of which hinge on fair compensation.

THE BOTTOM LINE: WAGES AND RESPECT

Let us be clear: this is not just about money. This is about recognition. It is about dignity. It is about a county that says it values public safety, yet consistently fails to show it through action. Wages are the metric, but respect is the message.

PPOA will not stand down. As our next rounds of bargaining unfold, we will continue to push, press and advocate on every front — legislative, political and organizational. Using every tool at our disposal, we will fight for a contract that reflects the courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment of our members.

We do not want special treatment — we want fair treatment. And we will not rest until we get it.