A strike by laundry workers could leave Ventura County employees without clean uniforms, as well as test a county ordinance that aims to guarantee a "living wage" at companies that contract with the county.

Union employees at Prudential Overall Supply are on strike up and down the state, demanding better wages and working conditions. They also have accused their employer of labor law violations.

Prudential cleans uniforms, lab coats, towels, mops and other equipment for Ventura County agencies at company locations in Moorpark and Van Nuys. There are about 200 county workers who wear the uniforms, and the contract totals about $120,000 a year.

Strikes have been authorized at every Prudential plant but are being carried out gradually. There have been no interruptions so far in service to Ventura County, but the county could find its orders delayed or even unfilled if the strike continues.

In the meantime, the county is taking a "wait-and-see approach" on talks for a new contract with Prudential because of the uncertainty in its labor situation, said Rosa Ceniceros, a procurement manager with the county. Prudential's current contract expires at the end of October, she said.

On Tuesday, about 15 union members and a handful of organizers addressed the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, asking them to pressure Prudential's owners to offer a more generous contract. If that doesn't happen, the county should consider dropping its business with Prudential, they said.

"We didn't want to go on strike," said Hector Aguilar, a Prudential worker. "We need work, and we deserve a better future for our families."

Prudential's managers could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Not a single union worker in the Van Nuys plant makes the $11 an hour wage that the county has set as its minimum "living wage" for businesses that contract to provide services, said Brian Callaci, an analyst with Unite Here, the union representing Prudential workers.

However, the living wage applies only to "services," and the county considers Prudential a provider of "goods" instead, because the company actually owns the uniforms and supplies and rents them to the county.

The living wage also doesn't apply because companies are allowed to pay less if they negotiate their wages with a union, as Prudential does.

Das Williams, a Santa Barbara city councilman and activist on behalf of living wage laws, told the board that it should strengthen the county's law so that it applies to Prudential.

"This is a good example of a company who's flouting the living wage laws," he said.

Other cities and counties that do business with Prudential have different living wage laws. The city of San Diego recently announced that it would terminate its contract with Prudential because of low wages, and other cities are investigating their contracts, Callaci said.

The supervisors took no action on the matter Tuesday but said they may revisit it at a future meeting.