Fresno County officials said Thursday that next week's planned labor strike won't affect public safety, even with hundreds of jail guards poised to walk off the job.

In light of the three-day strike, county leaders have warned that libraries, health clinics and service counters could close, and welfare programs may be suspended.

It might be impossible next week to get a marriage license or register to vote, for instance. County leaders just weren't sure Thursday how deeply services will be affected.

But the county jail and juvenile hall, where many union employees work, won't miss a beat, officials said. Workers from departments not involved in the strike will be diverted there. Many have been scheduled for overtime.

"Are the inmates going to be guarded? The answer is yes," said Sheriff Margaret Mims. "We've got it covered."

Mims was among many county department heads scrambling Thursday to put plans in place for the 4,100-member Service Employees International Union strike.

The union gave notice Wednesday that its members will walk off the job Monday in protest of their new contract, which includes pay cuts of at least 9%.

SEIU represents two-thirds of the county's work force, with members in virtually every county department.

Patrols by sheriff's deputies, Mims said, will likely go uninterrupted during the strike, even as patrol officers are shifted to the jail. Only as a last resort -- if all union-represented guards walk off the job and enough replacements can't be found -- would patrols be cut.

"We will continue to answer calls for service," Mims said.

Less than 24 hours after announcing the strike, union bosses said they had commitments from half their members to participate. They expect more to sign on before Monday.

SEIU held a weeklong rolling strike in April 1997, the last time its members picketed. At its peak, 1,000 of the approximately 1,900 union employees were off the job.

This year's demonstration would be much bigger, union leaders said, as more than two-thirds of members voted recently to authorize the strike.

"They're excited," local chapter director Tom Abshere said. "They want to go out and tell the Board of Supervisors it's time to get this thing settled."

County employees who are not represented by SEIU, but by another union, are permitted to walk out in sympathy with striking workers. At least one other union may join SEIU.

The smaller California Nurses Association, which represents about 75 county nurses, is meeting today to discuss its next step after the county forced pay cuts upon its members. Striking is an option.

County won't be 'held hostage'

County Administrative Officer John Navarrette said Thursday that the protest wouldn't change the county's position on pay cuts. The concessions are necessary, he said, to help balance the budget. All employees, he added, have made sacrifices and SEIU must do the same.

"We want to reach agreement with the bargaining unit but we will not be held hostage," he said.

County officials calculated that if no SEIU members showed up for work, the county would save $750,000 a day. Of course, the savings will be eroded by the overtime costs of the replacement workers.

The affect on public services of next week's strike, officials said, depends on how many employees decide to walk.

"We're going to open up whatever libraries we have enough staff to open," said chief librarian Laurel Prysiazny.

Library officials announced Thursday morning that they would close all 34 branches. But Thursday afternoon they changed course and said they would do their best to keep doors open, prioritizing first the Central Library, then the larger regional branches.