SEIU Chief Survives 3rd Ouster Try

The chief of Ventura County’s largest labor union narrowly survived a move Tuesday to fire him, the third ouster attempt in 28 years.

Board members representing about 4,000 county and city workers in Service Employees International Union Local 998 gave Executive Director Barry Hammitt a 29-17 vote of no confidence, three votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed to terminate his contract.

Union President Keith Filegar declined to discuss specific complaints against Hammitt, saying only, “There was a feeling that the union was not moving in the direction we thought it should be moving.”

Hammitt, who has led the union since 1974, said he considers such upheaval part of running a diverse and sometimes emotionally charged organization. Union members also tried to oust him in 1978 and 1989.

“I think these exercises are healthy because it causes us to refocus on what our objectives are,” Hammitt said. “I’m pretty upbeat about the thing and am pressing on.”

Still, Hammitt said he intends to hire a facilitator for an April goal-setting retreat that would include staff and the union’s board members.

The idea is for the group to hash out frustrations and identify a direction the union will take.

“I don’t see it as an insurmountable task,” he said.

Union members said complaints among the organization’s staff of 12 have been brewing for at least two years.

Salary Battle Had Been Acrimonious

The board’s vote Tuesday came just six months after the union ended its most acrimonious salary battle with Ventura County leaders in a decade, which ultimately resulted in raises averaging 13% over four years for 4,200 general government workers.

Hammitt, who earns about $115,000 a year, was chief negotiator.

But the contract, approved by the union in September, did not include a provision for retroactive cost-of-living retirement increases. The decades of back payments were a sticking point that prompted hundreds of frustrated librarians, social workers, accountants and clerks to strike for eight days in July.

Last summer’s strike was a testament to a more active membership that is demanding better service from the union’s staff, Filegar said.

Members pay about $400 a year in dues for direct union services such as representation in incidents of discipline or termination. They also receive indirect services that include negotiating salaries, endorsing candidates for public office and supporting issues such as living-wage laws in cities and the county.

Board Member Praises Director

Steve Wood, a senior planner with the county and former union president, voted against the motion to oust Hammitt.

The director is doing “a very good job,” Wood said. “He doesn’t take unilateral action. He always goes to the board for authorization.”

Some of Hammitt’s opponents said they hope the vote sends a message that a majority of members are ready for a change in the status quo.

“I think [Tuesday] night could be used as a good catharsis,” said Patricia Foster, who is in charge of circulation at Foster Library in Ventura.

“Having gotten some issues out into the open, my hope is we will go forward and ... have the union continue to grow,” she said.