Unfair Labor Charge Against Probation Resolved

Dear OCEA Probation members,

Within the next few days, you and your coworkers should see a Notice to Employees posted on your work area bulletin boards. This notice is part of the settlement and resolution of the Complaint issued by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) in connection with the Probation Department’s failure to meet and confer with us on the impacts of off-duty carry of Department-issued weapons.

This dispute began on Sept. 17, 2015 when the Chief Probation Officer issued a directive unilaterally prohibiting the off-duty carry and use of Department-issued weapons by probation officers. The directive presented a significant and completely unnecessary risk to officer safety. The Probation Department compounded its mistake by reneging on an agreement to meet and confer with OCEA over the issue—a clear violation of the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act.

Standing together, OCEA and the Executive Committees of both PSU and PSMU filed an Unfair Practice Charge with PERB to ensure OCEA Probation members' safety, and to defend your right to protect yourself both on and off duty.

You should start seeing posted about April 21, 2017, and they must remain posted for thirty consecutive working days. Please keep an eye out for the Notice and if it is not posted in your work area, let me know ASAP.

Again, I want to thank the PSU and PSMU Executive Committees for their commitment over the last 18-months to defend the rights of all Probation workers.

In solidarity,

Charles Barfield
OCEA Asst. General Manager

Publication Date: April 20, 2017