Almost 300 city employees in Los Angeles were spared from layoffs after two prominent unions reached agreements on budget cuts.
The Los Angeles Police Protection League, which advocates for over 8,700 officers, has introduced a voluntary program. This allows its members to take time off in exchange for some of the overtime they had previously accrued.
The layoffs would have impacted 222 private LAPD employees, such as secretaries and administrative staff. Although sworn LAPD officers weren’t slated for dismissal, some would need to cover for civilians who had left.
Mayor Karen Bass expressed optimism, stating, “We’re doing everything we can to reduce the layoff numbers. I anticipate this figure will drop even more as we continue our efforts. These numbers are not set in stone.”
Meanwhile, the Association of Engineers and Architects, representing around 6,000 members, has permitted its members to take five unpaid leave days between January and June of next year.
This agreement has secured the jobs of 63 engineers and architects, who fill various roles, including City Planner and analyst positions, rather than working directly for the LAPD.
Some LAPD civilians facing layoffs are represented by the engineers and architects’ association, while others are affiliated with different unions. The Police Protection League only advocates for sworn officers.
City manager Matt Zabo, responsible for labor negotiations at City Hall, reported that the savings from the contract reduced the potential layoffs to 75. On Wednesday, he communicated a memorandum of understanding to the city’s HR department, stating, “We will begin the layoff process promptly, involving employees represented by engineers and architects.”
In a budget proposal unveiled in April, Mayor Bass had suggested about 1,600 layoffs to tackle a $100 million deficit. Shortly after, the city council implemented various cost-saving measures, halving the anticipated layoffs.
To address the budget gap, the council opted to postpone hiring additional police officers, but both the mayor and the council president later hinted at finding funds to prevent this outcome.
Since the budget was finalized, numerous workers have either left their positions or been reassigned to safer roles, with 360 roles targeted before this week’s contract, according to Zabo’s memorandum from August 15.
The Police Protection League’s leadership remarked that the agreement with the city reflects a commitment to all involved.
In a statement, they noted, “Our union has always prioritized the safety of our officers. The need to reassign additional officers to non-executive roles prompted us to act. We collaborated with the city to offer benefits to our members while developing cost-saving measures to protect civilian LAPD jobs.”
Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, who leads the city’s budget committee, remarked, “Even in this challenging budget year, we ensured that no LAPD civilians would face layoffs.”
She added, “While it was our goal, it wasn’t guaranteed. This was achievable due to the collaboration between the engineers and architects’ association, the police department, and city leaders, which kept officers available on the streets and promoted public safety.”
Roy Saman, the president of the Association of Engineers and Architects, noted that union members approved the city agreement through an online vote on Sunday. He stated simply, “No one wants to lose their job.”
