COUNTY, UNION LEADERS TALK OFFICIALS HAPPY WITH PROGRESS, REMAIN CONFIDENT STRIKE CAN BE AVOIDED.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer For the first time in nearly two months, negotiators from Ventura County and its largest labor union labor union: see union, labor. met at the bargaining table Thursday, hoping to hammer out a compromise contract and avert a strike. The bargaining session began about 10 a.m. and lasted until nearly 6 p.m. as negotiators tried to reach a new contract for the 4,200 members of the Service Employees International Union Local 998. Their previous contract ended at 12:01 a.m. June 28, and members were preparing to strike when a mediator mediator n. a person who conducts mediation. A mediator is usually a lawyer, or retired judge, but can be a non-attorney specialist in the subject matter (like child custody) who tries to bring people and their disputes to early resolution through a conference. convinced union representatives to return to the bargaining table. Another session is scheduled for Wednesday. County officials refused to divulge details of the talks, but said they were happy with the progress being made. ``It was very positive,'' said Barbara Journet, the county's human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. director and one of the chief negotiators. A representative of the union could not be reached for comment. Negotiations between the county and the SEIU SEIU Service Employees International Union SEIU Special Education Intake Unit SEIU Secondary Education Interdisciplinary Unit SEIU Software Engineering Institute Union broke down in May when union officials felt no progress was being made in their demand for wages on parity with other counties - or what would amount to raises of about 10 percent. The county's offer at that time was for a 3.5 percent wage hike, but officials indicated last week they would be willing to up their offer in order to avert a strike. The union is also demanding a cost-of-living adjustment cost-of-living adjustment n. Abbr. COLA An adjustment made in wages that corresponds with a change in the cost of living. on retirement benefits for workers hired after 1979. County officials say that proposal would cost taxpayers $23 million and force cuts in programs and services in every county department. Supervisor John Flynn said that he remained optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op that the talks initiated Thursday will reach an agreement. ``I think we'll move to a settlement,'' Flynn said. ``I think we ought to have a contract in the next couple of weeks.'' Flynn said county supervisors had been swayed sway v. swayed, sway·ing, sways v.intr. 1. To swing back and forth or to and fro. See Synonyms at swing. 2. by the many employees who spoke during a recent board meeting about the need for a raise. ``The people who spoke were very sincere,'' Flynn said. ``Some of them need assistance. We need to find a way over the next few years to get them more on par. We need to start this year.'' |
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