Peace Officers in 2 Counties Stay Away From Jobs in Labor Disputes

Jail guards and probation officers in Fresno County staged a one-day strike Monday, while striking sheriff’s deputies in Calaveras County ignored a court order to go back to work.

Fresno County Jail and Juvenile Hall officers struck at 4 a.m. Monday and were followed by probation officers when their shifts began at 8 a.m.

Twenty-eight Calaveras County sheriff’s deputies struck Sunday in a wage dispute, leaving seven officers to patrol the rural area 50 miles southeast of Sacramento.

Calaveras County Superior Court Judge Orren Airola issued a temporary restraining order Sunday after the county argued that the strike was unlawful.

John Crane, county administrative coordinator, said deputies had turned down a two-year contract offer that would have provided a 4% pay hike.

In Fresno, Henry Gonzales, president of the correctional officers union, said his members want the county to use fewer part-time employees. He contended that a large majority of correctional officers were taking part in the walkout, which was scheduled to end at 11 p.m.

But sheriff’s spokesman Bob Kierejczyk said about half of the officers remained on duty at both the main and branch jails.

Sheriff’s deputies and special guards were used to supplement the correctional officers, he said.

Nine of 13 night attendants walked out at Juvenile Hall, and none of the 15 counselors scheduled to go on duty at 7 a.m. showed up, spokesman Craig Reid said. Seven probation custodial guards also walked off their jobs.