STOCKTON, Calif. (AP) San Joaquin County employees have
ratified a new three-year contract with the county, ending weeks of
heated negotiation and rolling strikes.
About 1,058 members or 79 percent of the Service International
Employees Union Local 790 voted Tuesday and Wednesday to approve
the contract. County supervisors are expected to vote on the
contract Tuesday.
While union members and the county still need to solve
health-insurance costs, union leader Stephanie Batey said the
outcome was productive. The new contract covers about 3,000 county
employees.
``It's a phenomenal victory that the members produced for
themselves,'' she said.
Healthcare coverage stalled negotiations, causing hundreds of
union members to strike at least five times in various departments
this summer. County officials wanted employees to shoulder some of
the rising costs. Union members have said they would contribute
more in co-pays for doctor visits and prescription drugs, but
wouldn't share costs for hospital stays and medical procedures.
Under the deal struck with the county, Batey said the union and
the county will create a panel to spend the next year reaching a
compromise on how to cover those costs.
Despite a majority vote, some union members didn't like their
new contract, complaining that a 2.5 percent raise wouldn't kick in
until October.
``I think we caved,'' said Glenda Freitas, 54, who works with
crime victims in the district attorney's office. ``And we lost
three days' pay.''
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)