How could Measure A's arbitration system affect the County Executive's budget management?
Arbitration system could limit County Executive's fiscal control in L.A. County If Measure A is adopted, the final decision on labor contracts for public safety unions would shift from the Board of Supervisors' regular process to a binding arbitration panel. This panel, however, is noted to look at comparable contract terms rather than the county's fiscal condition. This mechanism could impose contracts that force cuts in other budget areas or even lead to bankruptcy, thereby severely limiting the County Executive's ability to manage the county's finances and execute policy.
- Effect
- Strong negative
- How direct
- Brind's reasoning
- When
- Over the long term
- The story
- Gone quiet
How it reaches county executive
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Los Angeles County's Measure A is a charter amendment that would introduce binding arbitration into labor contract negotiations for public safety unions. This measure would cover 14 bargaining units and approximately 17,000 employees, including firefighters and deputy sheriffs. Under the proposed rules, if negotiations reach an impasse, a panel of three arbitrators would choose one side’s final offer for disputed issues, with no compromise.
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The arbitration system is criticized because arbitrators look at comparable contract terms and not at the fiscal condition of the county. This lack of fiscal consideration could result in contracts that force cuts in other budget areas or lead to bankruptcy, directly undermining the County Executive's operational and budgetary authority.
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The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- The Board of Supervisors currently has the last word on labor union contract negotiations in L.A. County.dailybreeze.com
- Measure A would cover 14 bargaining units and about 17,000 employees.dailybreeze.com
- The arbitration system looks at comparable contracts and not at the fiscal condition of the county.dailybreeze.com
- A contract imposed by the system could force cuts in other areas of the budget, or worse, bankruptcy.dailybreeze.com
Why it matters
The County Executive is responsible for the day-to-day operations and fiscal health of the county government. If the process for setting labor costs is removed from the executive and legislative oversight and replaced by a system that ignores the county's financial reality, the executive's ability to maintain stable operations and manage the budget is severely compromised.
This proposed system mirrors challenges seen elsewhere; for example, Vallejo voters repealed binding arbitration in 2010 after the city went bankrupt in 2008, citing arbitration awards as a factor in the fiscal crisis.
What we don't know yet
- Would the Board of Supervisors pass Measure A?
- What specific financial constraints would the county face if arbitration were implemented?
What would change this answer
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Reporting
- dailybreeze.comOct 8
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