Nation: Los Angeles County workers begin massive strike

The Associated Press LOS ANGELES (October 11, 2000 11:41 a.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - Nearly 42,000 Los Angeles County employees, including those who work in jails, libraries and health clinics, refused to go to work Wednesday as part of a general strike.

The strike, which began at 6 a.m., could affect a vast array of public services and many of the 10 million residents in the 4,083-square-mile county.

Pickets were planned at about 250 locations, said Bart Diener, assistant general manager of Service Employees International Union Local 660.

The strike is expected to multiply problems for many low-income people already coping with the 26-day-old strike that has halted Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus and rail lines used by 450,000 regular riders.

Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janavs on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order preventing nurses, lab technicians, physical therapists and other medical employees from striking. The court ruled that their absence would create a danger to public health.

The medical workers represent about 5,000 of the union's 47,000 members.

Doctors and uniformed sheriff's and fire department personnel are not part of the strike plans.

The countywide strike began in the early morning, but its greatest impact was not expected to be felt until later in the day, officials said.

Librarians, beach maintenance workers and crews that control sewer maintenance were among the employees joining the strike, Diener said.

Rain falling in Southern California would likely keep picket lines light, he said.

"It's important to have picket lines up when people are going to work, but we're not encouraging or even insisting that people be out there all day long," Diener said.

Nearly 30 pickets carrying signs and umbrellas braved the rain early Wednesday to protest outside the county's Hall of Administration downtown.

County negotiators agreed to resume contract talks Tuesday night, but a bargaining session ended after a few hours with no agreement in place. Negotiators planned to resume talks at noon Wednesday.

Contract negotiations ended Sept. 29 with the two sides far apart on pay. The union wants 15.5 percent raises over three years, while the county has offered a 9 percent increase.

The union has been staging rolling one-day walkouts since last week to demonstrate the potential effects of a general walkout.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority made their "last, best and final offer" Tuesday evening to the United Transportation Union, whose 4,300 bus and rail drivers remain on strike.

The transit strike is one of the longest in the city's history and follows more than five months of unsuccessful negotiations.

The agency also gave the union until 9 a.m. Thursday to accept its offer. Transit officials said they will present their proposal directly to bus and train operators if the transportation union rejects the contract offer.

"We believe this devastating strike must come to an end, and we believe this can make it happen," transit Chief Executive Officer Julian Burke told reporters shortly after presenting the union with the proposal.

Union General Chairman James Williams, who listened to Burke's statement, declined to comment afterward.

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 11, 2000