Employee protest sparks Barstow DMV closure

BARSTOW • Katheryne Tyra drove from Victorville to the Barstow Department of Motor Vehicles office Monday, hoping to make it easier for her sister to get her California identification card. But when she arrived, the doors were locked and a note was posted that read:

“Due to unexpected employee absences, this DMV field office will be closed today.”

Tyra, who waited outside the DMV on Tuesday, said she visits the Barstow office rather than Victorville because Victorville’s is too crowded. She checked the Web site prior to coming Monday, she said, and it didn’t say anything about the closure.

“I think it’s messed up,” she said. “I wasn’t off on Columbus Day.”

The Barstow DMV and three other offices in California were closed Monday after hundreds of employees, protesting the loss of Columbus Day as a paid holiday, were absent from work. Only one employee out of eight at the Barstow office showed up to work, according to DMV spokesman Steve Haskins. Statewide 685 DMV employees were absent.

Columbus Day had been a paid holiday for California state employees before, but state legislative action in February made it a regular work day like any other. State employees also lost Lincoln’s Birthday as a paid holiday, said Lynelle Jolley, state Department of Personnel Administration spokesperson. Employees do have 12 other paid holidays, including a floating holiday they may take any time, she said.

In protest, leaders with Service Employees International Union Local 1000, the largest state employees union, encouraged its members to not show up to work Monday. And for those who did show up to work, union leaders are encouraging them to file grievances to receive holiday pay, according to Jim Zamora, union spokesman.

According to a letter from Local 1000 president Yvonne Walker to the Department of Personnel Administration, the union’s 2006 labor contract with the state is still in effect and as part of that contract, Columbus Day is a paid holiday.

“State law was broken and our contract was violated when thousands of our members were forced to work on Columbus Day,” she said in a written statement Tuesday. “The governor and his managers are not above the law — we are holding them accountable and demand that employees receive the full holiday pay and credit they are guaranteed by our contract.”

Employees who took unauthorized absences Monday will be docked a day’s pay — roughly 4.65 percent of their monthly salary, Jolley said. Each employee is entitled to a certain number of sick and vacation days a year, Jolley said, and if an employee had taken an approved vacation day Monday, he or she would receive that day’s pay.

But, if an employee had taken a sick day, his or her supervisor could request a doctor’s note. Also, depending on the employee’s work history, he or she may face further disciplinary action, Jolley said.

Barstow resident Rick Muñoz postponed his Monday trip to the DMV to renew his license until Tuesday.

“I understand the situation between the DMV and the union,” he said. “But if the governor says you’re supposed to come in, you’re supposed to come in.”

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or jcejnar@desertdispatch.com