John H Sawyer

For more than three decades, John H. Sawyer has steered Orange County's largest government employee association on a careful course that marked him as both a loyal defender of workers' rights and a friend of county management. But with the county in financial collapse, Sawyer has suddenly changed his style. The 79-year-old general manager of the Orange County Employees Assn. has moved from his more comfortable role behind the scenes to center stage of the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S.

For more than three decades, John H. Sawyer has steered Orange County's largest government employee association on a careful course that marked him as both a loyal defender of workers' rights and a friend of county management. But with the county in financial collapse, Sawyer has suddenly changed his style. The 79-year-old general manager of the Orange County Employees Assn. has moved from his more comfortable role behind the scenes to center stage of the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S.

A proposed state constitutional amendment to limit the salaries of public employees would mean pay cuts for at least 113 Orange County civil servants and cause "serious disruption" in services, a county report says. The proposal by anti-tax crusader Paul Gann could spark an exodus of doctors working for the county public health and mental health departments, plus key officials at other county agencies, the report said.

A proposed state constitutional amendment to limit the salaries of public employees would mean pay cuts for at least 113 Orange County civil servants and cause "serious disruption" in services, a county report says. The proposal by anti-tax crusader Paul Gann could spark an exodus of doctors working for the county public health and mental health departments, plus key officials at other county agencies, the report said.

The general manager of the largest local government union in Orange County has retired, ending his family's 45-year association with the organization. John Sawyer quit the Orange County Employees Assn. last week after six years. In 1998, Sawyer succeeded his father, John H. Sawyer, who had served as general manager since 1959. The union, founded in 1937, represents more than 13,000 county government and court employees and 2,000 employees in 18 cities.

After a 39-year career as general manager for the Orange County Employees Assn., John H. Sawyer said Wednesday that he plans to retire Monday. "You reach a point when you think the time is right, and things have been going good for OCEA, so I'm leaving," said Sawyer, 83, who also has been the union's chief negotiator. The association won't have to change nameplates, though. Sawyer will be replaced by his son, John H. Sawyer, 51, the association's general counsel.

"These are not easy decisions and we know it. There is anguish. There is frustration. It will be years before the county completely recovers from this situation." MICHAEL R. CAPIZZI District attorney and member of the management team that recommended reductions "By golly, if someone can come in here and tell me how the public defender's office is going to do $3.7 million more worth of work with the same resources, it will be the modern-day equivalent of the fishes and loaves miracle." JAMES L.

Orange County officials are at an impasse in salary negotiations with their largest employee union and have called in a state mediator. The Orange County Employees Assn. and its nearly 11,000 members have been negotiating since April as the county tries to finalize its $3.6-billion budget plan. The union's existing contract was set to expire on Friday, but it has been extended for the mediation process.

The Orange County Employees Assn., the largest union for county workers, complained to the Board of Supervisors on Monday that vagrants and homeless people loitering in the Civic Center are presenting an "intolerable condition."

Layoff notices are expected to be handed this morning to 96 Orange County Social Services Agency employees in the first round of layoffs since Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy announced plans last month to reduce the county work force by 12%.

Orange County budget-cutting officials told union representatives Friday that they have identified some 2,050 employees eligible for retirement, saying that any anticipated layoffs could be significantly reduced if many of those older workers chose to retire by Jan. 10. At a lengthy meeting Friday evening, the county's management council also disclosed that it had originally wanted to cut the county's current budget by $70 million, but that they could devise only $40.2 million in reductions.

County employees went about their work with growing worry and questions Tuesday, wondering how their jobs may be affected by the deepening financial crisis. John H. Sawyer, general manager of the Orange County Employees Assn., which represents more than 11,000 county workers, said he had few answers to questions coming into his office. "Right at the moment we're kind of treading water, not able to inform our members about what's going on because we don't know ourselves," he said.