Letters: Taking on the DWP sick-pay policy

Re “DWP sick pay change urged,” July 27

We’ve known that the employees of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power make, on average, 50% more than other city employees and 25% more than other local utilities’ employees; now we see that “abuse” of an outdated sick-day policy is costing the DWP millions.

Kudos to Mayor Eric Garcetti for his quick response in calling for changes to this policy. Now that the DWP pay contract is up for discussion, this is a perfect opportunity to negotiate a reasonable contract that will bring DWP employees into alignment with city and other local utilities’ employees.

I hope the City Council will stand behind the mayor in demanding an agreement that will rein in pay and benefits and will include a revision of the flawed sick-day policy to align DWP employee compensation, including sick days, with that of other city workers.

Rebecca Beatty

Sherman Oaks

This unethical sick-day policy, which has cost DWP ratepayers $35.5 million since 2010, was brought to the public’s attention by The Times. Good for you.

A DWP spokesman attempted to make us feel a lot better by saying that “only a small number of employees” had taken advantage of the policy. What would make DWP customers feel a lot better is for this small number of employees to pay back what they essentially stole.

Peter J. Foley

Palm Desert

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