SERVICE EMPLOYEES' UNION DIRECTOR FIRED AFTER 29 YEARS ON JOB.

Byline: - Grace Lee

The executive director of Ventura County's largest employees' union was fired after 29 years on the job, board members of the union announced Wednesday.

Barry Hammitt was removed Tuesday in an 11-4 vote by board members of Local 998 of the Service Employees International Union, said board President Keigh Filegar.

The decision came out of ``a difference in where the union wants to move as a whole from this point forward,'' said Filegar, who refused to elaborate.

Hammitt could not be reached for comment. Board members discussed firing Hammitt back in March, when the 6,500-member union established a set of 10-year goals, Filegar said. The board later decided to oust Hammitt because members didn't feel enough progress was being made to meet those goals, he said.

``Hammitt served as executive director of SEIU Local 998 since 1973, and has made many contributions over the years to advance working family issues in Ventura County,'' Filegar said in a statement. ``Hammitt's expertise, especially as a skilled negotiator, has been widely recognized throughout his 29-year career at Local 998.''

John Flynn, chairman of the Ventura County supervisors, who worked with Hammitt for many years on the opposite side of negotiations, said Hammitt had done much to improve the salaries and benefits of county workers.

``In my view, he's been very good. He has a very good sense about the need of the workers,'' Flynn said.