VENTURA : Contract Approved for 143 City Workers

The Ventura City Council approved a three-year contract Monday to increase the salaries and benefits of the city’s 143 maintenance and operations workers.

Under the contract negotiated with the Public Employees Assn. of Ventura County, the city’s skilled and unskilled tradesmen and maintenance workers will receive a 4.5% salary increase the first year of the contract, 3.6% the second year and 4.5% the third year.

The contract, which takes effect Friday, adds a vision care plan to health benefits provided to these city employees and their dependents. Employees will also receive $25 more per month from the city to help offset other health or medical costs. Presently, they are allotted $175 per month to pay for additional benefits or for dependents’ health needs.

Barry Hammitt, executive director of 6,500-member Public Employees Assn. chapter, said the employees were pleased with the contract that they approved Nov. 28.

“It provides them $1,587 more in base wages alone,” he said of the average yearly increase. “We think the salary increases will help protect them from inflation over the next three years.”