Deputy’s Union Sues Over “Threats”
The Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs Association in California is suing the county and four members of the Board of Supervisors in federal court in San Francisco for allegedly threatening retaliation for the union’s participation in a petition drive.
But Jim Bickert, a labor representative for the deputy sheriffs’ union, said the cancellation of the raise didn’t make any difference to deputies’ decision to sue:
“Our clients are offended that government officials would seek to stifle their free speech rights. … They are also concerned that their future bargaining rights will be impaired.”
The lawsuit is based on claims of violations of the deputies’ constitutional free speech rights and a state law requiring public employers to bargain in good faith in employee contract negotiations. It asks for an injunction barring the supervisors from retaliating against the union in contract negotiations or employment terms.
The suit also seeks a financial award. County spokeswoman Betsy Burkhart said the county administration and county counsel’s office do not comment on pending litigation. In addition to the county, the lawsuit names as defendants the four supervisors who voted for the pay raise: Karen Mitchoff, Mary Piepho, John Gioia and Federal Glover.
Supervisor Candace Andersen, who is not named in the lawsuit, voted against the raise, which would have increased the board members’ salaries from $97,483 to $129,227 per year. The lawsuit alleges that Piepho and Mitchoff made specific comments in December that threatened retaliation for the union’s participation in the drive to gather petition signatures.
It alleges that Piepho told former union president Ken Westermann during a meeting on Dec. 11 that the association “made a bad decision and it is not going to end well for you guys.”
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