January 5th, 2010, 6:52 pm · posted by Jennifer Muir

Orange County government’s largest workers union is suggesting a strike by its members after learning that the sheriff plans to lay off 57 non-sworn sheriff’s employees in coming weeks.

Nick Berardino, general manger for the Orange County Employees Association, said the department hasn’t figured out the details of the layoffs, such as the classes of employees on the chopping block. Sheriff’s officials will confirm they’ve proposed layoffs, but say they don’t have hard numbers.

Berardino says he was “shocked” because the department promised the union would be included in the planning stages so they could offer alternatives and suggestions.

“The department did not keep its promise,” Berardino wrote. “These layoffs are particularly disturbing based on the fact that no management employees or executives will be laid off or reduced. In fact, the executives and managers will keep all their perks intact and many retiree extra help employees will remain on the job while rank-and-file employees are put on the street.”

The email contains a poll asking if whether members would support “selecting a day or two that all OCEA members in the Sheriff’s Department would agree not to come to work.”

“Enough is enough and if the workers decide to take action, it is a sacrifice and tribute to all of those who have lost their jobs while the rich have gotten richer,” Berardino said today.

Sheriff’s spokesman John McDonald confirmed that layoffs have been proposed, but he said the department won’t have any firm numbers until the meet-and-confer process is complete.

“The purpose is to determine whether there are alternatives we can work out with the union,” McDonald said. “We’ll be doing our best to work with the union to meet the needs of the budget.”

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