OXNARD : 350 Offer to Switch to 4-Day Workweek

About 350 union employees of the city of Oxnard have volunteered to work 10-hour shifts four days a week to help the city comply with county air-pollution rules.

Archie Solis, chief steward of Local 501 of the Operating Engineers Union, told the City Council that his members are willing to go on the so-called 4/10 plan immediately. “And we’re not asking for any money or $600 lockers,” he said.

Some city officials have suggested offering cash incentives, lockers, showers and child-care assistance for employees who ride-share or bicycle to work.

Oxnard has until Aug. 1 to submit a plan for reducing vehicle usage among the 700 city employees who report to work daily in or near City Hall between 6 and 10 a.m. The city faces a fine of $25,000 a day if it fails to make the deadline.

City Manager Vernon G. Hazen cautioned council members against accepting the union members’ offer until a committee has concluded a study of the county’s Rule 210.

“I applaud their offer, but even if every city employee went on 4/10, it wouldn’t be good enough,” Hazen said. “We have to car-pool, too, among other things.”

Another scheduling change being considered would have city employees work nine-hour shifts and take one day off every two weeks.

Michael Plisky, the only council member who voted against developing a compliance plan, suggested that city workers would drive more, not less, if they had three-day weekends. But Lino Corona of the Rule 210 Committee said days off could be staggered throughout the week to avoid three-day weekends.

In its first stage, Rule 210 requires employers with 100 or more workers in one location to have at least 1.35 people for each vehicle arriving during peak morning hours.

That equals about four occupants for every three cars. Currently, city workers who fall under the county rule average 1.12 persons per vehicle, or about nine occupants for every eight cars arriving at work.