Countywide : County Workers OK 18-Month Contract

Members of the Public Employees Assn. of Ventura County have ratified an 18-month contract with the county, ending what officials called a lengthy but good negotiating session.

Eighty-four percent of the group’s 4,680 members approved the contract Monday, officials said.

The contract will be discussed at a public hearing at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. The board is scheduled to vote on the contract Feb. 11.

Barry Hammitt, executive director of the employee group, called the agreement satisfactory, but added that “given the country’s cool economic climate and the problems of county government, the package represents one of the better ones in the state.”

A major feature of the contract is the “no take-aways” provision, meaning that members will not be subjected to salary or benefit reductions, Hammitt said.

The contract includes two salary increases, he said.

Employees will receive a $45 across-the-board increase July 5, Hammitt said. Those who have been at the top of the pay scale for at least one year as of Jan. 3--about 40% of the group’s members--will receive an additional 5% increase, he said.

Other provisions include employer-paid health insurance for employees and their dependents, a $1.88-per-hour salary increase for nurses and a $192 biweekly bonus for hazardous materials workers, who previously received $3-per-hour “on-call” compensation, Hammitt said.

In addition to nurses and hazardous materials workers, such non-management employees as clerical workers and maintenance people are affected.

“The contract represents a responsible settlement given the economic times,” said Edward McLean, the county’s chief negotiator. “I’m pleased with it.”

The settlement was a “win-win contract,” Hammitt said. “It met the workers’ and employers’ needs.”