FMEF Members,
The City has approached FMEF with a proposal to transition the classifications listed below from the current practice of employees laundering their own City-issued uniforms to a City-provided uniform laundering service. According to the City, the proposal is intended to reduce costs while providing employees with the convenience of having their uniforms laundered.
Before determining whether to pursue a side letter agreement with the City, FMEF wants to hear directly from the members who would be impacted. The proposal affects employees in the following classifications:
- Air Conditioning Mechanic
- Airport Operations Lead Worker
- Airport Service Worker
- Electrician
- Equipment Operator
- Equipment Operator – Water
- Facilities Lead Worker
- Grounds Maintenance Lead Worker
- Irrigation Specialist
- Location Specialist
- Maintenance Worker
- Senior Maintenance Worker
- Senior Maintenance Worker I
- Senior Maintenance Worker II
- Sewer Lead Worker
- Skilled Maintenance Worker – Building/Facilities
- Skilled Maintenance Worker – Water I
- Skilled Maintenance Worker – Water II
- Source Control Inspector
- Streets Lead Worker
- Traffic Painter
- Tree Services Inspector
- Water Lead Worker
- Water Production Operator
If you are in one of the above classifications, please cast your vote by 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2026. The link to the survey is included in your email. Your vote will indicate whether you support FMEF continuing discussions with the City regarding a potential side letter to implement the proposed uniform laundering service.
At the membership meeting on July 15, 2026, members asked several questions about the proposal. The City provided the following responses:
- How frequently will soiled uniforms be exchanged for clean uniforms?
Weekly.
- If a uniform is damaged, what is the process for repair or replacement?
Employees may submit a ticket to the uniform vendor during scheduled pickups. In most cases, the replacement will be delivered by the next scheduled delivery.
- Is supervisor or management approval required to repair or replace damaged uniforms?
No.
- How will the City determine when uniforms are replaced with new ones?
All uniforms will be replaced with new uniforms every 18 months under the agreement. Employees may also request a replacement sooner if they reasonably believe one is needed. There is no additional charge from the vendor for replacement uniforms.
- How will Water and Sewer employees who may need to change uniforms multiple times during a shift be accommodated?
The City stated it will accommodate reasonable requests for additional uniforms based on an employee’s division or assigned duties. Employees may request additional uniforms if needed.
- Can employees continue wearing their existing uniforms if they are not turned in when the program begins?
Yes, provided they remain in good condition. However, those uniforms will not be included in the laundering service.
- Will the polo shirts worn by Lead classifications be included in the laundering service?
Not at this time. The City indicated this could be revisited in a future budget cycle.
- Will the City continue using the current uniform vendor?
No. The City intends to transition to UniFirst.
If the affected members generally support the proposal, FMEF will continue discussions with the City regarding a potential side letter agreement. If the affected members do not support the proposal, FMEF will advise the City accordingly.
Thank you for taking the time to participate in this decision.
In Solidarity,
Kerensa Schupmann
Senior Labor Relations Representative
Orange County Employees Association (OCEA)
