Riverside County employees say that a drive for more efficient government has stalled due to county inaction, harassment and retaliation against employees.
SEIU Local 721 has filed a federal lawsuit against sheriff’s department officials who repeatedly retaliated against an outspoken county employee who has advocated for more efficient and transparent government.
Click here to read about it in the Press-Enterprise
Wendy Thomas, a 911 Communications Supervisor, became involved in union activities during contract negotiations for 6,000 county workers in 2008. During that time, SEIU Local 721 spearheaded efforts to work with the county on the creation of the Roy Wilson Efficiency Task Force.
The main objective of the Task Force, named in honor of the late county supervisor, was for county employees and management to work collaboratively to save millions for Riverside County in cost-savings efficiencies while promoting transparent government. Thomas spoke repeatedly at public meetings, with the Board of Supervisors, with the media and with other county employees strongly advocating for smarter ways to run local government.
Lawsuit Alleges Pattern of Harassment Against Advocate for Open Government
The lawsuit alleges that shortly after becoming a union negotiator, Thomas, who previously had an exemplary performance record with no disciplinary actions against her, was singled out and subjected to punitive actions by her supervisors. Some of these actions included several involuntary transfers without cause, finding her county car forcefully removed from her parking space, supervisors attempting to track and limit her time spent on union activities, and being told by her supervisors that the county employees’ recommendations for efficient government were “stupid ideas.”
The lawsuit was filed in federal district court on Dec. 1 and alleges violations of the 1st and 14th Amendments involving free speech and equal protection for employees speaking out for open government. The union also has pending lawsuits due to the sheriff’s department’s continued refusal to release any documents under the California Public Records Act.
Riverside County workers also questioned the county’s commitment to open government, and say that county administrators have not moved on policies to create a more efficient government, including recommendations in the Board of Supervisors’ own 2009 Safeguard County of Riverside Against Preventable Expenses, or SCRAPE report, that looked at areas where policies or procedures could be changed to save money.
“We need to have smart solutions to running local government, so we can better serve our communities and make Riverside County stronger as residents continue to face the brunt of this economic recession. Our members did not shy away when it came to making sacrifices to protect public services. It’s time for the county to do the right thing and fulfill their promise.”
Wendy Thomas, SEIU 721 Regional Vice President and Riverside Sheriff’s Department employee named in lawsuit
“As a county worker and citizen this is extremely frustrating to witness. Instead of working together to help make government run more efficiently with our diminishing resources, the county continues to drag its feet, and harass my fellow county workers who step up and speak out to offer solutions.”
Maria Ochoa-Flynn, Riverside County Victims Advocate
Sorry to hear this happening to you. Just want to say thanks again for all your help in fighting for us!
Our union… sacrificing the many for the pocketbook of one.
Wendy has done some great things for members of this union and LIUNA, at no personal gain for herself. She has been successful because she has not been intimidated by the people we should be able to trust to make sound, reasonable, and fair decisions, but are sometimes bulling and subjugating. After reading this and the lawsuit, and talking with Wendy, it seems that my trust that our leaders use realistic, sensible, and equitable judgment is being taken for granted. It took years for our employer to fix the compaction issues. They never denied the problem or challenged the lack of fairness, even before the economy went sour, but they purposely would not fix it. If they had done the right thing from the very beginning with that and other on-going issues, they would not have heard from Wendy. It was her perseverance that forced them to change what THEY AGREED ALL ALONG WAS UNFAIR. They brought this on and I wish it didn’t come to this.
Thanks Wendy and Good luck to you and yours