Local News in Brief : County Workers Off Job

Nearly 2,500 of Los Angeles County’s 75,000 employees stayed off the job Thursday in protest over stalled labor negotiations, county and union officials said.

The job action, the second of its type this year, began Wednesday night and involved employees in the registrar-recorder, treasurer-tax collector offices, and the sheriff’s, health, welfare, children’s services, district attorney, library and facilities management departments. Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Don Deise said some employees called in sick while others simply did not come to work.

The workers, members of the largest county employee union, are negotiating a contract to replace the one that expired Sept. 30. Deise said the old contract, which has been extended on a day-to-day basis, prohibits job actions against the county.

Representatives of Service Employees International Union, Local 660, said the work actions were not sanctioned but that participating employees have the union’s support.