Calling for State Audit of the Metropolitan Water District

WHEREAS it has been alleged that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is an unsafe workplace with rampant sexual harassment, bullying, and retaliation, where 20 current and former employees have described a pattern of harassment of women, LGBTQ+ and other employees who enrolled in the district’s apprentice program; and

 WHEREAS since 2005, more than 30% of women working in trades positions for the district have filed formal equal employment opportunity complaints, after making these complaints, women reported being ignored by agency officials and some said they were pressured to continue working alongside their abusers, and one victim was required to move to a facility more than 100 miles from her home; and

WHEREAS on October 27, 2020, an independent investigation was initiated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Board’s Organization, Personnel and Technology Committee, but there is concern that this investigation will not be sufficient to reveal the systemic level of abuse employees have described;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Riverside County Democratic Party calls upon the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to approve an audit of all personnel policies and practices of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California including all human resources and safety procedures and policies to guarantee workers have a safe working environment free from sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and retaliation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Riverside County Democratic Party shall communicate this resolution to California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Rudy Salas, Jr., Chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.   

Submitted by: The Resolutions Committee of Riverside County Democratic Party

Passed by the Riverside County Democratic Party 3/29/2021