Walkout Disrupts County Services : Labor: Despite tentative agreement, about 5,000 workers strike, shutting libraries, the marriage license bureau and some health and welfare offices.

A one-day strike by thousands of Los Angeles County government workers Tuesday caused sporadic disruptions in health and welfare services, shut 63 libraries and halted issuance of marriage licenses.

In defiance of a court order, dozens of nurses joined the walkout by members of the Service Employees International Union, including dogcatchers, court clerks, pharmacists, welfare workers and others.

County officials estimated that 5,000 members of unions representing 40,000 workers stayed off the job--far fewer than union officials had predicted.

The strike was called off by union leaders after Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Antonovich told workers during the board’s meeting that he expected the panel to approve a tentative agreement on health benefits--the key stumbling block.

Union leaders called the strike even though the tentative agreement had been reached. They said a one-day work stoppage would ensure the Board of Supervisors’ support for the agreement.

Although the board did not vote on the matter, Gilbert Cedillo, general manager of the union’s Local 660, said he was satisfied with board assurances that the agreement would be ratified and urged striking employees to return to work.

“I’m surprised that 5,000 (employees) gave up a day’s pay in this economy,” said Elliot Marcus, county director of employee relations. “I think the employees acted more responsibly than the union.”

Marcus said a more disruptive strike was averted by the intervention of the county’s top labor leader, Bill Robertson, at the request of county Chief Administrative Officer Richard Dixon. According to Marcus, Dixon had complained to Robertson because Local 660 leaders called a strike after a tentative agreement had been reached.

Robertson said he spoke to several county supervisors and Local 660’s leader in an effort to ease tensions.

The county labor chief said he urged Cedillo to “low-key” a demonstration planned for Tuesday at the board meeting because “it would not be any good to further upset the supervisors.”

Robertson said he explained to the supervisors that Cedillo was “boxed” into going ahead with a strike because Local 660 leaders believed the county had reneged on an earlier tentative agreement.

The impact of the strike varied widely. There were no significant disruptions in the courts, jails and hospitals. But patrons faced long waits for service or were turned away from some health clinics and welfare offices.

More than two-thirds of the 90 county libraries were closed, as was the marriage license bureau in the County Courthouse.

“I guess I’ll still want to marry her tomorrow,” joked David Granello of Bell Gardens as he stood in line with his fiancee. “We’ve been planning to get married for about a month. Now we’ll have to wait until we both have another day off.”

County health officials reported near-normal operations, a far different picture from when 4,500 nurses walked out two weeks ago, shutting down emergency rooms.

Still, about 60 nurses at one hospital and six neighborhood clinics walked out, despite a court order directing nurses to stay on the job. County officials said they probably will not bring contempt proceedings against the nurses if they return to work today.

All 19 surgeries scheduled for Tuesday at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey were canceled because operating room nurses and nurse anesthetists walked out.

As many as 100% of the public health nurses walked out at six of the 47 health clinics, resulting in patients being turned away. Only those with urgent health problems were seen, health officials said.

In addition, 87% of the pharmacists at the six county hospitals walked out. The pharmacists, represented by another union, were protesting an impasse in negotiations.

At Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center in Watts, 13 out of 14 pharmacists failed to show up for work. Hospital administrators said they brought in pharmacist supervisors to fill medication orders for hospitalized patients. Most clinic patients were referred to private pharmacies.

Earlist Clemmons arrived at King hospital at 6:30 a.m., worried about his high blood pressure. The 43-year-old diabetic said he waited much of the day in the emergency room before being given a prescription. But by the time he made it to the pharmacy window at 2:30 p.m., he found a sign reading, “Due to the Pharmacists Going on Strike, We Are Only Filling Discharge Prescriptions.”

He was handed a list of eight pharmacies in South-Central Los Angeles, but he said that the first one he called told him they would not accept his general relief card as payment. “If you need help and can’t get it, what are you supposed to do?” he asked.

At some welfare offices, managers took care of emergency requests for food and shelter only. Officials in the Department of Public Social Servcices reported that 3,068 welfare workers--37% of the total staff--stayed out.

“We will try to take care of emergencies--the homeless and those in desperate need,” said John Zarcone, director of district operations in the El Monte welfare office. “But those who can wait are being asked to come back tomorrow.”

“If I have to wait, I’ll just wait,” said Micaela Urbina, who left an East Los Angeles welfare office without being served. “These people work hard, they have many cases and they need the money.”

But Elisa Herrera, waiting in line at a welfare office near downtown, said: “I don’t think it’s fair that people who have work should walk out. . . . I think they should thank God they have work.”

Signs posted at a number of county facilities read, “Due to a work action by employees, services may be reduced. We appreciate your patience.”

The strike clearly angered county supervisors, who said they nonetheless will support the agreement after it is ratified by the union membership.

“This is the first time that a labor organization went on strike after they reached agreement,” Antonovich said. “It’s like the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.”

Several rank-and-file members expressed anger with union leaders and said they would continue to strike.

“This is nothing until (the supervisors) sign,” complained Manuel Avila, a welfare worker.

The tentative agreement, which will cost the county an additional $140 million over its four-year life, calls for the county to pick up the entire cost of health insurance for many workers and their families. It provides an average of $60 a month more in take-home pay, a concession the county was willing to make since it is not offering a raise to most workers this fiscal year.

The union still must work out a pay package for 21 bargaining units, including nurses. But both sides said an agreement on health benefits removed the key stumbling block.

Negotiations are scheduled for today.

“Cooler heads have prevailed,” said Cedillo. “We have an agreement. I believe it’s the best an employer can do in tough economic times.”

Times staff writers David A. Avila, Stephanie Chavez, Richard Colvin, Donnette Dunbar, Faye Fiore, Jesse Katz, Hugo Martin, Sebastian Rotella and Irene Wielawski contributed to this story.