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City approves interim approach to workers— compensation and safety program
Summary
Los Angeles City Council approved a CAO-led, phased plan to develop a comprehensive citywide safety, loss-prevention and risk-management program and removed a separate pay-related recommendation pending labor negotiations.
Los Angeles City Council approved an amended City Administrative Officer (CAO) report directing staff to phase in a comprehensive risk-management, loss-prevention and safety program for city employees, the council said at its Jan. session. The council voted to receive the CAO—s interim report, direct implementation planning with the Personnel Department and the joint labor-management committee, and to absorb consultant costs within the CAO—s existing budget rather than appropriate $50,000.
The CAO, John Fujioka, told the council the office and the Personnel Department, working with the joint labor-management committee, recommended an incremental, phased approach to develop a citywide safety program. Fujioka said the CAO had originally asked for $50,000 to hire consultants but had identified funds in its current budget and would no longer seek the appropriation. He also asked the council to remove a recommendation to consider IOD (industrial injury/occupational disability) pay for sworn staff because those items are being negotiated in pending police and fire contracts.
Council members debated the motion and related amendments in committee and in council. Councilmember Ruth Galanter (chairing the personnel/government efficiency committee) and Councilmember Janice Goldberg pressed for a measured approach; Goldberg asked that one element (item 7, instructions to negotiate IOD pay at take-home levels for sworn employees) be sent back to committee so affected unions could testify. Fujioka and council leaders agreed to remove the IOD-pay recommendation from the motion and to return other items to committee for further development.
The council unanimously approved the amended action by roll call, recorded as 14 ayes.
The action directs the CAO and Personnel Department to work with the joint labor-management committee to develop a safety program, funds two positions and consultant support within existing CAO resources, and return to the Personnel and Government Efficiency Committee with progress reports. The council explicitly did not adopt the IOD-pay recommendation at this time and agreed that pay issues for sworn staff should be addressed through contract negotiations.
Council members repeatedly emphasized that the goal is to reduce rising worker—s compensation costs while ensuring injured employees receive appropriate care; speakers stressed the need for a single point of responsibility for the program. The council recorded no ordinance or appropriation related to IOD pay at this meeting.
Council action and next steps: the council approved the CAO—s amended motion directing interdepartmental work, funding of two positions and consultant support from CAO existing funds, and returning future reports to committee. Councilmembers asked that the CAO and Personnel Department provide follow-up reports to the Personnel and Government Efficiency Committee.
