OXNARD : Workers Want Pay, Health Benefits

Eleven of the 37 Oxnard city employees facing layoffs as part of the city’s 1994-95 budget cutbacks are asking the mayor and City Council for severance pay and extended health care benefits.

In a letter submitted to the City Council and Mayor Manuel Lopez this week, the employees--some of whom have worked in Oxnard more than 30 years--asked for severance pay and a health insurance extension because they have been informed they will have only about 30 days to find new jobs.

“In the last three weeks, we received verbal notification from our supervisors that our positions are being recommended for elimination as part of the city’s operating budget reductions for FY 94/95,” the letter states.

The employees are requesting continued health insurance through Dec. 31; severance pay for up to 24 weeks; full payment of accrued sick leave up to 600 hours, 32 hours of paid administrative leave, and that anyone retiring before Dec. 31 remain on the payroll until their retirement date.

“Our group is very disappointed, to be tactful, that we still haven’t been told what is going to happen to us,” said Mike Ramirez, a supervising building inspector who has worked for Oxnard for 36 years. “The city system is at fault for not giving us any respect for the loyalty and the determination we have given them over the years. All we’re getting is a golden kick in the butt. The city shouldn’t treat its tenured workers like yesterday’s newspaper.”

Council members Andres Herrera and Tom Holden and Mayor Lopez declined to comment.