City OKs Pay Plan for Military Reserves

In response to ongoing tensions between the United States and Iraq, the Los Angeles City Council gave its unanimous support Tuesday to a plan to supplement the pay and benefits of city employees called to active military duty in the Persian Gulf.

The council instructed the city attorney to draw up an ordinance that will allow the city to make up the difference between employee salaries and military pay for a period of up to 180 days. It would also guarantee that city employees be allowed to keep their health, dental and insurance benefits during their tour of service.

“If we were not to take this action, city employees would have their incomes cut so severely that they wouldn’t be able to support their families, make mortgage payments or continue their family medical insurance programs,” said Councilman Joel Wachs, who introduced the motion.

The council passed similar ordinances in 1990 and 1995 after city-employed reservists were activated for duty in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War and in Bosnia during the NATO mission.

The ordinance calls on other local governments and private employers to extend similar protections to their employees. It could be extended if an employee’s military service went beyond 180 days, city officials said.

Slightly more than 400 city employees were reserve members in 1996, the last time an official count was made. Some city employees have already been called to serve in the Persian Gulf as a result of the current deployment, including at least 15 members of the Los Angeles Police Department, Wachs aides said.

Mayor Richard Riordan is expected to sign the ordinance this week, at which time it would immediately take effect.