The statement was made in a letter this week for refusing to defer pay increases and instead asking for higher salaries, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The letter written by County Manager David Boesch was sharply addressed to the president of the Deputy’ Sheriff’s Association and also said the union is “demonstrating an astounding lack of cooperation and support for the many other vital programs and services provided by our County employees.”
A copy obtained of the letter by The Daily News pointed out that other county employees have sacrifices in the way of wage freezes and that other Bay Area sheriff’s deputies have agreed to similar deferred salary bumps.
According to the Mercury News:
The letter underscores the county’s efforts to negotiate with labor groups to reduce a projected $100 million deficit by 2013, a gap largely caused by rising spending on employee compensation.
Boesch said the county asked the deputies in late 2008 and again in October 2009 to defer or forgo raises, but the union rejected the requests both times. Late last year, the union “inexplicably” proposed increasing pay and benefits instead, Boesch wrote.
This month, the union leadership made a new proposal to the county but has since said it does not want the county to consider the offer, Boesch wrote. The current contract expires in 2012.
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