County requests state action to continue essential services during strike
–County of San Luis Obispo officials have requested the State labor agency to seek a court order to protect public health and safety in the event of an impending strike by the County’s largest employee union, the San Luis Obispo County Employees’ Association (SLOCEA).
SLOCEA gave the county notice advising that a strike against county operations may begin as early as Dec. 4. county officials say the deficiencies in the notice are an unfair labor practice and violate State labor laws. The county’s unfair labor practice charge filed today against SLOCEA is to prevent against disruption of essential services.
“The County is not trying to prevent a strike, but we need to be sure that any strike doesn’t jeopardize the health and safety of county residents,” said County Administrative Officer Wade Horton. “We hope that PERB will help the parties resolve these issues so that a court process against SLOCEA will not be necessary.”
The Public Employment Relations Board or PERB has already started to investigate the county’s charges. The county hopes that PERB’s investigation will prompt SLOCEA to identify the dates of the strike and to agree on the safety sensitive positions that need to be exempted from the strike.
Unless these issues are resolved with PERB’s help, PERB may file a lawsuit at the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court next week, requiring proper strike notice and preventing strike activity that would jeopardize public health and safety.
SLOCEA represents approximately 1,775 of the county’s 2,800 employees.
