Star & Shield Magazine

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. Read More

Proposed Termination of CSB Contracts, Part 2

PPOA genuinely hopes that our active and retired membership, and their loved ones, had a patriotic and festive July 4 celebration. No matter your political persuasion, the United States is and will always be the world’s great beacon of liberty and independence. Here’s to America’s 249th anniversary of Independence Day! Now on to some concerning LASD decisions that became effective June 1 and July 1 regarding PPOA members assigned to County Services Bureau (CSB). On June 1, one Sergeant and two Sheriff’s Security Officers (SSOs) assigned to Libraries were involuntarily displaced due to a proposed contract termination of May 1. Read More

Just the Beginning

My fellow Custody Assistants, a lot has transpired in the short amount of time I have been in this elected position — some challenges, small victories and inevitable changes. However, with each one there remains one constant: Custody Assistants showing their tenacity and resiliency in the face of the daily hardships and inequities we face as a classification. In March, I had my first meeting with Department executives, where I addressed a few of many ongoing custody issues. The first was that there was only one Custody Assistant in the entire county to hold a Custody Training Officer position. Read More

Potential Pension Progress and a Positive Step Forward for PPOA Elections

Quite the summer so far, and once again as I watch the news, I say, “It’s good to be retired.” I feel terrible for the men and women working so hard today on the Department, and it seems County leadership has failed them at almost every level. We have all lived through the years of wage battles, too much overtime and what seem like insane new policies that make the job nearly impossible, not to mention legislation that largely favors the criminal. However, looking at what we have today, I think it’s never been worse on all fronts for the men and women on the job. Read More