Colleges, Employees Reach Tentative OK

Negotiators for Ventura County’s three community colleges and the secretaries, groundskeepers and others who staff the campuses have reached a tentative agreement after 21 months of bitter talks.

Officials from the Service Employees International Union Local No. 535 said Tuesday that they had agreed to a 1% pay raise retroactive to July and several other provisions in a pact that must still be approved by the district’s Board of Trustees.

“I’m not overjoyed, but it is the best that could be done after a year and nine months of negotiations,” said Cheryl Herrmann, the Ventura College computer lab technician who serves as vice president for the union.

The 360 classified workers--who make up the bulk of the colleges’ employees who do not teach--have worked without a contract since June, 1993.

Since then, district and union negotiators have squabbled over a pay raise, employee evaluations and appointments of classified workers to district-level committees.

Some workers took to picketing district board meetings in attempts to spur the negotiations, complaining that trustees offered teachers a 1% pay raise even though the classified workers had no contract.

Jerry D. Pauley, vice chancellor in charge of personnel, did not return calls Tuesday.

The tentative agreement, expected to be ratified by union members later this week, must still be approved by trustees, who are expected to consider the agreement March 7.