Measure A Strips Supervisors of Final Authority
L.A. County Charter Amendment A fundamentally alters how the local government handles labor negotiations for key public safety personnel by replacing the Board of Supervisors’ ultimate authority with a binding arbitration process.
Under the existing system, county supervisors hold the final say when contract talks stall. By law, public safety personnel cannot strike, leaving the board to impose a final offer that these workers must accept. Measure A changes that dynamic entirely for sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, lifeguards, and other essential safety workers.
The Initial Phase of Good-Faith Bargaining
The initial phase of contract talks still requires union and county representatives to seek a mutually beneficial deal. Both sides operate under a legal presumption that they will negotiate in good faith. But if a persistent gap remains and an impasse is officially declared, the supervisors step out of the driver’s seat.
Constructing the Three-Member Arbitration Panel
When negotiations break down completely, Measure A mandates the creation of a three-member arbitration panel. The county and the union each select one member. Those two chosen representatives then select the third person, who serves as the chair of the panel.
State Intervention and Formal Hearings
If the two sides cannot agree on that crucial third panelist, a state entity steps in to provide a list of qualified arbitrators for selection. The panel focuses strictly on core employment elements such as wages and hours. They hold formal hearings and receive evidence from both parties before issuing a final result.
A Legally Binding Public Outcome
Once the panel reaches its decision, the outcome is legally binding and made public, removing the county supervisors’ traditional authority to dictate the final employment terms.
