Probation Officers Join California's CWA COPS

The San Bernardino County Probation Officers' Association, representing 305 officers, voted on Sept. 13 to become part of CWA Local 9111, the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs (COPS).

"We certainly look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship," said Michael DiCesare, the local's full-time organizer who coordinated the campaign. "We're working hard now to get some negotiations going, not only to secure their present level of benefits, but hopefully to get them the safety retirement they deserve."

The desire for a safety officer's retirement at age 50 based on 3 percent of salary, as opposed to a regular county retirement at 55 based on 2 percent, is what drove the probation officers to disaffiliate from the Safety Employees Benefit Association (SEBA) and then seek affiliation with a stronger union. In its last round of bargaining, SEBA, which is controlled by the county's deputy sheriffs, secured improved retirement for the deputies but not for the probation officers, DiCesare said.

DiCesare and local Director of Field Services Don Ruize, under the leadership of COPS Executive Director Monty Holden and probation officers' association President Gorden Gregg, conducted numerous meetings with probation officers at 15 locations around the county. They mailed information to probation officers and conducted phone banks to get members on board for the affiliation. The probation officers voted 156-54 to join CWA.