Supervisors and managers were brought in to try to keep things going and the county received a judgment Wednesday to force about 250 “essential” workers to return to the job; the county is requesting an additional 900 workers also be ordered back to work.Wednesday’s walkout was the first county strike since 1988, a rolling action that lasted almost two weeks.SEIU Local 998 represents an array of agricultural and building inspectors, accountants, social workers, welfare coordinators, clerks, planners, library and other employees who voted by 88 percent to go out on strike by if their demands for pay and benefit increases are not met.The county countered the threatened strike by readying non-union members, supervisors, managers, and retired county workers to keep essential services running when the walkout hit.SEIU Local 998 members want salaries brought up to more closely match other counties pay scales. The county offered 3.5 percent in pay increases over two years, an offer that was rejected in May. The union is asking for raises and benefit enhancements that could cost the county $8-million to $12-million to accomplish parity with employees from other counties who hold the same jobs.
Strike: County SEIU walks out, court orders some workers on job
July 20, 2001
Santa Paula News
Wednesday was the day that about 4,200 workers walked off their county jobs after a last-ditch negotiation session failed on Tuesday.
Pickets were seen throughout the county including Santa Paula where they carried signs outside the Agricultural Commissioners Office on Santa Barbara Street, Calworks/Job Center on Main Street, Telegraph and Todd roads near the jail, among other county job sites.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesWednesday was the day that about 4,200 workers walked off their county jobs after a last-ditch negotiation session failed on Tuesday.Pickets were seen throughout the county including Santa Paula where they carried signs outside the Agricultural Commissioners Office on Santa Barbara Street, Calworks/Job Center on Main Street, Telegraph and Todd roads near the jail, among other county job sites.The strike had been delayed by the army of county workers with hopes that negotiations would be finalized giving the members of Service Employees International Union Local 998 - with 4,200 members about half the county’s work force - higher pay and beefed up benefits. A state mediator called in to by county officials to help break the stalemate was unable to bring the parties together, the county and union both hanging tough on demands.The strike has the potential to cripple county government and its ripple effect throughout the county.Picketers partially blocked access to Ventura County Government Center and some shouted at passing motorists. Figures on how many non-SEIU member county workers that refused to cross the picket lines was not available.
