OXNARD : City Clerical Workers OK 2-Year Contract

A yearlong stalemate between Oxnard and its clerical staff ended late Monday as the employees’ union voted to accept a two-year contract that grants all workers a small bonus and the senior workers a 5% raise.

The Service Employees International Union, made up of the city’s secretaries, clerks, accountants, engineers and planners, voted with a strong majority to pass the plan.

Both sides described the contract as bare-bones but fair.

“It’s not everything we wanted,” said David Hartsuck, president of the Oxnard chapter of the union, “But we figured if we could get something out of the deal it was worth taking.”

The agreement includes a onetime cost-of-living increase of $515.

It also adds a sixth salary level, which will provide longtime workers with a 5% raise in December. About 70% of clerical workers will qualify.

These concessions amount to a 3.5% raise for the employees, Oxnard City Manager Vernon Hazen said.

“It’s basically a bare-bones cost-of-living increase,” he said. “We couldn’t afford to give any more.”

Earlier this year, the Oxnard City Council vowed it would not grant raises to city employees in the first year of their contracts.

Hazen explained that because this two-year contract is already in its second year, the raise was allowed.

The city is continuing to negotiate with several other unions for similar contracts.

Police have not had a contract since Jan. 1 and have gained no ground in negotiations.

“I don’t think the city is even interested in negotiating,” said Steven Blanchard, negotiator for the Oxnard Peace Officers Assn.

“We’ve been at it since November and they have not budged.”

The city’s negotiators were not available for comment.

The council is expected to vote on the agreement with the clerical workers next week.