PAY RAISE PASSED FOR EMPLOYEES; CONTRACT GETS SIMI WAGES IN LINE WITH WORKERS IN OTHER LOCAL CITIES.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Daily News Staff Writer

The city's largest employee union will get a 7 percent pay raise over the next three years, a contract that both sides said will put members on par with municipal workers throughout Southern California.

City officials and representatives of the Service Employees International Union entered negotiations three weeks ago to hammer out an agreement to replace the current contract that expires in July.

The contract, which was ratified by the union April 22 and approved by the City Council on Monday, calls for a 2 percent increase in fiscal 1999-00, another 2 percent in 2000-01, and 3 percent in 2001-02.

The annual salary adjustment combined with a benefits increase would total 9.48 percent over the three-year term.

Both sides said the contract was the fairest salary rate that could be reached in today's economy.

``If you go back and compare the last contract, they probably got larger raises. But we're also in a time that the economy has improved significantly since the last time we negotiated with the group,'' said Laura Magelnicki, assistant city manager. ``Considering the time we're in now, it seems to us that it's reasonable.''

The new contract, which will take effect July 5, will cost taxpayers about $400,000 the first year, and a total of $1.1 million over three years.

The SEIU, which represents about 270 city workers, asked that negotiations begin before the current contract expires because it was concerned about bringing certain employees up to industry standards.

Simi Valley conducted a salary survey three years ago, comparing rates with those of other cities throughout Ventura County. It found that many city workers weren't being paid as much as their counterparts.

The union, which represents clerical, technical and maintenance employees, said the survey was flawed because it compared Simi only with cities of comparable size, like Santa Clarita, and with other municipalities in Ventura County.

Similar salary surveys for police officers and managerial employees compared rates with larger cities, such as Los Angeles.

Edgar McLemore, SEIU chapter president and a service worker in the water department, said the new contract will bring everyone up to comparable levels over the life of the contract.

``I think we're getting a fair shake,'' he said. ``We're getting in line with management and the Police Department so we can set ourselves up in the future so we won't feel so far behind.''