The Orange County Board of Supervisors held a special closed-door meeting Friday to review new proposals for a contract with the union representing waste and public works employees. No announcement emerged from the session regarding the negotiations.
The proposals were submitted by the Teamsters Joint Council 42 through a mediator, who has separately engaged with representatives from both the county and the union. Ahead of the meeting, an aide to Rep. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, delivered a letter to the supervisors, which encouraged the board and the union to seek a fair resolution.
The Teamsters strike began last week but is currently on hiatus from picketing. Board Chairman Doug Chaffee stated that the pause allows waste haulers to utilize the county’s landfills without crossing picket lines. This temporary suspension alleviates pressure on the interim sites that waste-hauling companies use before transporting garbage to the county’s three landfills. Teamsters Joint Council 42 spokesman Christian Castro described the union’s agreement to suspend the strike as an act of good faith.
Supervisor Don Wagner indicated his belief that the county's final offer was reasonable given the circumstances. Wagner cited the county's tight financial situation, specifically mentioning millions of dollars paid out in settlements related to the Airport Fire, as a factor limiting negotiation flexibility. He stated that the county is "really stuck because we have dwindling resources."
Wagner urged the Teamsters to accept the current deal, emphasizing that it would be a one-year agreement. He suggested that the county's financial position is likely to improve by the next year. Wagner noted several impending changes that would influence future negotiations: a new supervisor will assume office in District 4, the county is actively seeking a new Chief Executive Officer, and there will be a clearer understanding of the county's financial situation next year. He described the current period as not ideal for significant, monumental decisions. K.C. Roestenberg, the current Orange County CEO, took over following Michelle Aguirre's retirement and is not expected to hold the position for an extended period. Wagner indicated that a search for a permanent CEO would likely resume with a new board in January.
Another consideration for the county, according to Wagner, is that any improved offer extended to the Teamsters would necessitate similar adjustments for all other county unions. He explained that any action taken for one union must be shared with everyone else, underscoring that even a small deal with the Teamsters would have a widespread impact across the entire county. This dynamic, he added, significantly restricts the board’s capacity to make certain concessions.
In the preceding week, county and union officials engaged in a dispute over the Teamsters’ picketing strategies. The county lodged a complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board, alleging that picketers violated the law by forming human chains, obstructing traffic, and falsely informing customers that landfills were closed. Teamsters officials refuted these accusations, contending they were untrue, and in turn accused county officials of committing labor law violations. Chairman Chaffee remarked on the county's evidence, stating that despite pictures and statements from waste hauling drivers, the union seemed to imply it was all imaginary.
The Teamsters are expected to hold a vote on the latest proposal in the near future.
