Proposed CST/CSA merger update
Dear OCEA member,
On Monday, March 2, 2020, OCEA members and staff met with representatives of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, County Human Resources Services and County Counsel to kick off discussions regarding the Sheriff’s Department’s desire to merge the CST/Sr. CST and CSA classifications. While the Sheriff’s Department initiated these conversations, OCEA has a duty to meet and confer with the Department on any impacts to our classifications. At this time the Department is simply beginning the process of studying the classifications and their job duties. No decisions on what the final merger will look like have been made.
In the event you are asked to complete any documentation or are interviewed regarding your job duties, make sure to put your full effort into addressing the Department’s questions. Please share all duties that you are performing even if they are not listed in your current job specifications. This data will be critical in future decisions regarding any merger. Not everyone will be interviewed, but again if you are, please complete everything that you are asked to do.
Your team is comprised of OCEA Bargaining team members: SSO President Mike Torley, SSO Vice President and OCEA Board Member Henry Leber, SSO Secretary Dan Edwards, and Senior CST Julio Robles. This team was created during the past round of negotiations and there are potential impacts to the SSO classification as well as CSTs, Sr. CSTs and CSAs. We felt it very important to have a CSA and CST added to our team and we thank CSA Quentin Blakely and CST Tony Salazar for their willingness to serve. OCEA representatives Aaron Peardon and Kate Wolf will lead discussions with the Department.
The Sheriff’s Department has indicated it wants to complete the study portion of this process in time to include any recommendations in the July 1st budget process. Meetings will be scheduled during the upcoming months and we will keep you updated on any progress. There have been a lot of rumors regarding this merger, many of which have been incorrect. We ask for your patience and participation in this process. As information becomes available, we will share it and will answer any questions we are able to.
In Solidarity,
OCEA Bargaining Team
Publication Date: March 6, 2020
