L.A. County Unions Seek Binding Arbitration Power for 16,500 Workers

Los Angeles County workers in firefighting, sheriff’s office, lifeguard, and deputy medical examiner roles will face a new rule for contract disputes if voters approve Measure A on November 3. The measure covers 14 bargaining units and approximately 16,500 employees who are legally barred from striking. If passed, these workers would gain the right to independent arbitration if negotiations with the county board reach a standstill.

Currently, the Board of Supervisors holds unilateral power to impose final contract terms when talks fail. Under the proposed amendment, that authority would shift to a three-member arbitration panel. This change would apply specifically to non-striking units, leaving other county employees who can walk off the job under the existing rules.

The idea traces back to Vallejo, a Northern California city that adopted binding arbitration more than 50 years ago after a police strike. In 2007, a mediator ruled that Vallejo could not cut its fire department despite financial problems. The city declared bankruptcy eight months later. Vallejo voters voted to remove the arbitration clause in 2010.

County officials and union leaders are now debating whether L.A. County will follow Vallejo’s path or benefit from a balanced process. Supervisor Holly Mitchell raised concerns when the board voted 4-0 to place the measure on the ballot, noting that arbitrators are not elected and may not weigh countywide trade-offs like healthcare and capital improvements.

Supporters argue the new process forces transparency. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who helped draft the measure, stated that the arbitration process opens the books and bases decisions on facts rather than political preferences. She noted that only six of 21 California jurisdictions with binding arbitration have ever needed to use it.

Derek Hsieh, executive director of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, said the current system gives employers near unilateral control. He argued that the threat of arbitration would push both sides to settle before an outside panel takes over. Dave Gillotte, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1014, agreed that the leverage would encourage negotiators to reach a deal.

Academic experts suggest the process is neutral. Justin McBride of the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment said studies do not show that labor or government consistently wins. He cited a 2010 Cornell University study of New York negotiations, which found that arbitration cases declined over time as parties learned to cooperate.

Unions representing firefighters, deputies, and other public safety employees have raised $7.7 million through mid-October to support Measure A. No formal opposition has been filed with the county. However, community groups L.A. Forward and La Defensa recommend a no vote, citing concerns that bundling the Sheriff’s Department with other units gives law enforcement too much negotiation power.

If voters approve the amendment, negotiations will begin as they do now with a presumption of good faith. If an impasse is declared, each side selects one arbitrator, and they choose a third to serve as chair. The panel will hold hearings, weigh evidence on wages and hours, and issue a public binding ruling.

The vote comes as county leaders look to stabilize labor relations without the risk of unilateral supervisor offers. The measure represents a shift from political control to legal adjudication for the county's largest non-striking workforce.