COUNTY, 39,000 WORKERS REACH ACCORD NURSES POSE DEMAND FOR INCREASED STAFFING.

Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer

Los Angeles County and union officials announced Thursday they have reached tentative contract agreements that include three-year pay hikes averaging 12 percent for 39,000 government employees.

Another 8,000 employees, mostly nurses and library workers, continue to bargain with the county and will likely reach a settlement within the next few days, both sides said.

The pay increases range from 10 percent to 20 percent, effective Nov. 1, pending union membership ratification.

The hikes are a compromise between the 9 percent previously offered by the county and the 15.5 percent sought by the Service Employees International Union Local 660, which represents the 47,000 workers.

Other key gains for workers were additional pension benefits and health insurance for part-time workers.

The contract is the best workers have gained in the past 20 years, and will cost the county some $100 million in added costs over the next three years, according to Los Angeles County Chief Administrative Officer David Janssen.

``This falls within the budget authorized by the board several months ago,'' Janssen said.

The union called the settlement a victory for workers.

``It means raises for the vast majority of members significantly more than the 9 percent county-imposed ceiling,'' said Annelle Grajeda, general manager of Local 660. ``The purpose of negotiations was to get our fair share, and we feel we've done that.''

Because the local is split into 19 bargaining units, the 13 that have settled can sign separate contracts if ratified by the members. An umbrella contract affecting benefits for all 47,000 workers has already been agreed on.

Throughout the contract negotiations, Janssen had adamantly asserted that the county could not afford more than 9 percent raises, and anything over would mean budget cuts in other areas.

But he recanted on Thursday, saying the raises were within the budget, and the county always planned on offering more than 9 percent.

Both sides disagreed on whether one week of staggered walk-out actions earlier this month affected negotiations, which have dragged on for most of this year and broke down on Sept. 29.

The main reason the nurses have not yet reached a deal is because of a union demand for additional staffing, Grajeda said.

``We have staggering numbers of uninsured in Los Angeles, and they're the ones that depend on county health facilities,'' Grajeda said. ``We cannot expect to staff those facilities with the same number of people we had 10 years ago. It just doesn't work.''