Ventura Judge Prohibits Health Workers From Joining Strikers

A Ventura County Superior Court judge Friday issued an order prohibiting about 300 medical workers from taking part in a strike of Ventura County government employees scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Meanwhile, 80 of the county’s 100 road and flood-control workers began their strike five days early in a union-sanctioned walkout, forming picket lines at service yard facilities in Moorpark and in Oxnard, union spokesman Greg Thayer said.

After receiving affidavits from health administrators, Judge Kenneth R. Yegan issued a temporary restraining order--effective through Sept. 28--prohibiting hospital, health-clinic and mental-health employees from striking.

Public Service Disruption

“If these people are not exempted, essential public services will be disrupted,” which could seriously affect public health, Yegan said.

But Jim Farley, an attorney for the Public Employees Assn. of Ventura County, said that, if hospital workers go out on strike, no hazard would be posed to health or safety. He said county health managers had been given plenty of time to plan for the strike.

“The county said they needed four days’ notice, and we gave them four days’ notice,” Farley said. “We didn’t want to place patients in any kind of danger.”

It had been agreed by union officials all along that employees of the Ventura County Medical Center’s emergency room and infant-care facility would continue to work during a strike. But the restraining order affects still more medical workers.

Firefighters, Lawmen Exempted

County firefighters and sheriff’s deputies are not affected by the strike since they are not members of the union.

Barry Hammitt, executive director of the union, criticized county officials for requesting notice of the strike and then using that time to take legal action against the union.

Union officials and county negotiators have been wrangling over two main points in contract talks: the amount of salary increases and a provision that would make monthly union fees mandatory for all county employees who are eligible for union membership.

Hammitt said the union sought a 9.5% salary increase over two years and favors union fees. County officials say they cannot afford to pay more than a 4.25% salary increase over two years and oppose the fees.

On Wednesday, both sides reportedly agreed on a 5.25% increase over two years, but talks stalled over the issue of fees. The strike was announced Thursday by union officials.

Meanwhile, union officials agreed to allow the 80 road and flood-control workers to go out on strike early.

Immediate Walkout

“They were so angry that they wanted to go out immediately,” union spokesman Thayer said. “There will be no road work or flood-control work until we reach a settlement with the county.”

Fuel deliveries will be halted at the county yards because drivers, who are represented by the Teamsters’ Joint Council 42, have agreed to honor county picket lines, union officials said. The service yards also house county trucks and road-repair equipment.

Clerical workers who process inmates at the Ventura County Jail also began their strike on Friday, union spokesman Bob Lawrence said.