(August 23) Bob Blough has been forced out of his position as the general manager of the largest public employee union in San Bernardino County.
The San Bernardino Public Employees Association represents and handles collective bargaining for over 11,000 employees working for San Bernardino County and 3,000 others working for 16 of the county’s cities – Barstow, Big Bear, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton Fontana, Hesperia, Loma Linda, Montclair, Needles, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, and Upland, as well as three cities in east Los Angeles County, Claremont Pomona and West Covina and Banning in Riverside County.
“The employment of SBPEA General Manager Bob Blough has come to an end,” a posting on the SBPEA website’s homepage says.
During his tenure, which followed that of Chris Prato, Blough has been buffeted by a contracting economy that has forced local governments to rein in spending and conflate staffing levels, and either institute furloughs, reduce salaries and benefits or lay off employees.
In working with city managers and San Bernardino County Chief Executive Officer Greg Devereaux toward achieving operational cost reductions, including givebacks and concessions on existing contracts, Blough has fallen under criticism by some association members and there have been several efforts to decertify SBPEA as the representative of some employee divisions, most recently involving the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Following a report of his departure last week, efforts to contact him by means of his association-issued cell phone have been unsuccessful.
He has been replaced, on an interim basis, by  Deidre Rodriguez.