Sickout by Clerks Hampers Civil Courts : Labor: But the job action’s second day fails to shut down the judiciary, as those taking part in the strike had hoped.

A sickout by court clerks continued across Los Angeles County for the second day Wednesday, seriously hampering operations in civil courtrooms.

But with criminal courts operating almost normally, the job action failed to shut down the judiciary, as the clerks had hoped.

More than two-thirds of the clerks and judicial assistants throughout Los Angeles County have participated in the strike, which is in response to lingering salary and job status disputes. Officials with the Los Angeles Superior Court Clerks Assn. said it is unclear when the clerks will return to work.

“When you take our salary and compare it to the bailiffs and the court reporters, you can see why they’ve taken the action,” said David P. Bradford, president of the clerk’s union.

Bradford said some court reporters earn well into the six figures but clerks make a maximum of $43,713 annually and haven’t had a raise since 1990.

Courthouse supervisors have been preparing for a strike or sickout for nearly two months and implemented a plan to shift available clerks from civil courtrooms to those that handle criminal matters.

“All of the managers, some supervisors and even one staff assistant have been helping out” in courtrooms, said Timothy Adams, the administrator who oversees all San Fernando Valley court operations.

In Van Nuys Superior Court, only six of 30 clerks showed up for work Wednesday. But supervisors said six of the 24 who failed to show up had legitimate excuses, meaning 60% participated in the sickout.

San Fernando court operations, which were relocated to Van Nuys after the Northridge earthquake, also continued with six clerks.

A mediation conference between the clerks and the court is tentatively scheduled for Friday, said J. Timothy Fives, spokesman for the union, Local 575 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Fives said the clerks want an increase and want court officials to loosen a policy that calls for an automatic suspension if a clerk makes any mistake on official court orders.