Public Services to be Interrupted, Delayed by County Labor Strike

Author: Administrative Office
Date: 12/7/2018 4:46 PM

A labor strike is expected to cause some interruptions or delays in public services next week. However, services essential to public health and safety will continue.

The County of San Luis Obispo’s largest employee union, the San Luis Obispo County Employees’ Association (SLOCEA), is expected to go on strike no sooner than Tuesday, December 11. The strike is expected to end Friday, December 14. But 160 SLOCEA-represented employees essential to public health and safety services will not be eligible to go on strike.  

“The strike will not jeopardize the health and safety of San Luis Obispo County residents,” said County Administrative Officer Wade Horton. “However, some County facilities and services that don’t affect public health or safety, including County library branches, will be closed during the work stoppage. We regret any inconvenience this may have on our residents.”

While County officials will assess the impacts to each office every day of the strike, officials currently anticipate the following impacts to services between Tuesday, December 11 and Friday, December 14:

  • Administrative Office: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Agriculture/Weights and Measures: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Airport: The terminal will remain open and the flight schedule will be uninterrupted. The Airport’s business office will likely be closed for the duration of the strike.
  • Animal Services: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Assessor: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Behavioral Health:
    • Atascadero Youth Services, SLO Youth Services, and South County Youth Services will be by appointment only.
    • Youth Mental Health clinics Martha’s Place and SAFE will be closed unless enough staff are present.
    • Day treatment will not occur unless staff are present.
    • Therapeutic Learning Classrooms school-based services will not occur unless staff are present; schools have been informed.
    • School and community-based services will be cancelled as necessary.
    • Substance Use Disorder (drug/alcohol) adult clinics will be open with reduced hours in Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo (Johnson Avenue), Atascadero, and Paso Robles from 8 – 5 pm with closure for one-hour lunch from 12 – 1 pm. Doors will be open; staff will triage crises, schedule and re-schedule appointments, and take payments.
      • No drug testing will occur, except for emergencies.
      • No transportation services to the clinics will be available, unless staff are present. 
      • All groups and services after 5 pm will be cancelled, if the staff are not present by 11 am. 
      • Staff will serve all medication, withdrawal and MAT clients. Staff will attempt to serve all DUI Exit individuals. 
      • Staff will be open for walk-in, but staff will likely have to schedule a come-back appointment the next week.
  • Board of Supervisors: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Central Services: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Child Support Services: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Clerk-Recorder: The Atascadero office will likely be closed for the duration of the strike. The San Luis Obispo office will remain open. (Updated on 12/10/2018 at 9:20 AM)
  • County Counsel: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • County Fire Department: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • District Attorney: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Emergency Services: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Environmental Health: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Human Resources: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Information Technology: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Library: All County libraries will be closed from December 11 through December 13, open again on December 14.
  • Parks and Recreation: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Planning and Building: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Probation: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Public Guardian: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Public Health: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Public Works: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Sheriff-Coroner: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Social Services: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • UC Cooperative Extension: Currently no anticipated closures.
  • Veterans Services: Currently no anticipated closures.

The County is not currently aware of any other planned closures. As more information becomes made available, the County will provide public updates at www.slocounty.ca.gov/SLOCEA-Strike-Info. 

For media inquiries, contact CAO Wade Horton at (805) 781-5011 or [email protected].