Unionized Peninsula Animal Control Officers Plan Strike Friday

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA – Unionized animal control officers working for the Peninsula Humane Society in San Mateo County have announced plans for a one-day labor strike Friday, Teamsters Local Union 856 officials announced Tuesday.

The strike comes in response to what they describe as unfair labor practices by PHS president Ken White. Union workers said that White has refused to agree to "a fair 3 percent cost of living adjustment."

White responded to that claim, saying that PHS is offering a merit-based cost of living adjustment ranging from 3 to 5 percent.

"We're offering more than they are asking," White said.

According to Tim Jenkins with the Teamsters, however, the devil's in the details.

"Management at its sole discretion may give an employee a negative review and then deny them a raise," Jenkins said. "In bargaining we countered by asking if they would let us appeal a negative review and they said no."

"Given that we recently had a group of whistle blowers go public about animal safety concerns, we see this proposal as a tool to silence those in the future who would speak out, and that would be very bad for animal welfare," Jenkins said.

According to the offer made to Teamsters by PHS on Jan. 25, "Employees who are not meeting standards will not receive an increase... The performance review is not grievable."

An updated offer dated March 3, however, clarifies that while a substandard performance review is not grievable, the termination of union members in the wake of a poor performance appraisal would be - meaning that teamsters could challenge disputed administrative and disciplinary actions of PHS officials in a formal process that could lead to binding arbitration.

Both sides confirmed, however, that these terms were quickly rejected by the Teamsters.

Jenkins said union members have "blown the whistle" on a crumbling roof in one of Peninsula Humane Society's facilities and a lack of air conditioning in vehicles officers use to transport animals, which creates "dangerously high temperatures."

In response, White said the Coyote Point Shelter in San Mateo is 66 years old and needs to be replaced, but it's not dangerous to the animals or the staff.

"We've been working really hard to get a new facility built, and we as an organization have struggled really hard to keep that facility up and running," White said. "It's the county's responsibility to build it and they are going to build it. We're excited for that fact."

According to White the design phase has already begun. White and members of his team attended a "kick-off meeting" Monday.

Labor officials have also drawn attention to the disparity in pay rates between White and animal control officers.

Jenkins said White earned $476,827 in 2014, while animal control officers are earning $16.36 an hour. White did not dispute those numbers.

"I get paid a very good salary and I am frankly very pleased to get paid a good salary," White said.

He argued, however, that under his leadership PHS has attracted a number of significant major donors to fund major projects like a 175-acre wildlife rehabilitation facility in Saratoga as well as a big portion of his salary.

– By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock