COUNTYWIDE : Union Urges Plan to Help Co-Workers

The Ventura County public employees union has asked the Board of Supervisors to allow county employees to convert unused sick leave and vacation time to cash so employees can donate the money to co-workers in need.

Last month, the supervisors approved a similar proposal to aid the financially strapped families of reservists called to active duty in the Persian Gulf War.

For the past year, the Public Employees Assn. of Ventura County has requested that the board establish a process to allow employees to donate unused sick leave and vacation time to co-workers who have suffered a personal tragedy and have no paid leave, said Barry L. Hammitt, executive director of the group.

Ron Komers, the county’s personnel director, said converting paid leave to cash donations is much less complicated than transferring sick leave and vacation time between employees.

In a March 12 letter to the supervisors, Hammitt said the union would place the funds in an interest-bearing account and would establish a criteria for employees who want to draw from the fund.