Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Court rejects order to stop Atherton layoffs
• Employees union says it's committed to fighting the decision on appeal.

by Sandy Brundage

Describing it as a "very, very difficult decision," and a "profoundly sad case," a judge denied the Teamsters Union Local 856 request for an injunction that would have stopped the town of Atherton from laying off 11 employees.

Judge Steven Dylina in San Mateo County Superior Court on Thursday, Aug. 11, sought arguments from both sides before rendering the ruling, and told the courtroom that he fully expected the case to head to the appeals court.

He explained that the plaintiffs failed to prove their case in light of other cases cited by Atherton's legal defense, which argued that cities have the right to lay off employees as needed.

The union appeared to agree with the judge's prediction about the appeal. "We are disappointed in the ruling, but the union will continue to push the lawsuit forward," said spokesman Peter Finn. "Teamsters Local 856 is committed to fighting outsourcing with all available resources."

The town planned to lay off six employees on July 15 as part of its strategy to outsource the building and public works departments, a move staff said was necessary to help close an $856,000 budget deficit.

Those six employees will now lose their jobs on Friday, Aug. 19. Five public works maintenance employees received job extensions through Sept. 16, town staff said. According to City Attorney Bill Conners, another employee may also retire now that the judge has ruled, bringing the number of actual layoffs to 10.

The layoffs were challenged in court by the union under a section of state government code that it says makes it illegal for the town to outsource the jobs it has targeted, according to Mr. Finn. The court granted a temporary restraining order last month, blocking the layoffs until the Aug. 11 hearing.

A similar case in Orange County Superior Court led to a preliminary injunction in July against outsourcing of city services in Costa Mesa. According to the firm representing the employee union in that case, the lawsuit cited California Government Codes 37103 and 53060, which it interprets as prohibiting the use of private contractors for general services performed satisfactorily by city employees.

Those are the same government code sections cited in the Atherton lawsuit by Stewart Weinberg, the union's lawyer. But City Attorney Bill Conners said the two cases didn't have much in common, primarily because the Teamsters union signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the city could lay off employees and eliminate positions when necessary due to economic conditions. In the Costa Mesa case, he said, the city outsourced without negotiating first, treating it as a management right.

The Teamsters argued that the MOU expired on June 30. Atherton's legal defense contended in its filing that the agreement is still in effect despite the expiration date, because no new contract has been put in place yet, an argument the judge's ruling appeared to confirm on Thursday.

Posted by amazed, a resident of the Atherton: other neighborhood, on Aug 16, 2011 at 11:33 am

I have to agree with 'laughing' from last weeks article. The teamsters was founded by Jimmy Hoffa the biggest crook of them all. It seems truly fitting that the corrupt and dishonest police department would be represented by them. Says alot actually. Get rid of all departments (police, public works and building), outsource and there will be no Teamsters to do business with and no frivalous lawsuits to muck up the works and waste tax payer dollars. I think more and more residents are sick and tired of the games, wasted money in lawsuits paid out and most of all embarrassment.

Posted by Union Employee, a resident of another community, on Aug 19, 2011 at 12:31 pm

Amazed, How ignorant you are about Unions. Do some research and find out why Unions came about. Remember a fire in a garment factory in New York way back in the day. Nah I suppose people like you don't know or care why employee rights came about. Just sad, real sad.....

Posted by Peter Carpenter, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Aug 19, 2011 at 12:38 pm

Unions perform an important service by protecting the rights of their members. Wise unions also realize the importance of not overplaying their hand in demanding higher pay and benefits and in refusing to make significant concessions when public revenues decrease.

A lot of public service unions have agreed to significant concessions; those who did not have only themselves to blame when their jobs are eliminated.