More than 1,500 Napa employees, members of Local 1000 of the Service Employees International Union, joined their colleagues around the state to vote overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract after weeks of contentious bargaining.

The results of the month-long voting process, involving the largest California state workers' contract ever negotiated, were announced over the weekend.

Highlights of the new pact include a general wage increase of up to 7.5 percent over the next two years, plus a $1,000 bonus for 2006. The total package worth is more than $500 million.

Napa workers affected include 421 nurses, 118 IT professionals, 385 janitors and cooks and 327 teachers, working at facilities such as Napa State Hospital, the Napa DMV office and the Veterans Home of California in Yountville.

Members of the largest union of California state employees will receive equity wage increases of between 5 percent and 10 percent.

Prior to the adoption of the new state budget, the workers voted by an 85 percent margin to authorize a walkout if talks broke down, but during the past month voted 94 percent in favor of approving a new three-year contract.

A union news release said the agreement does not contain any of the takeaways demanded by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, which would have cut the average state workers' total compensation, including benefits, by 14 percent.

The contract now goes to the state Legislature for ratification and must be signed by the governor. Legislative leadership and the governor's office have indicated that they will approve the agreement as soon as possible.

The bargaining process was characterized by picketing and demonstrations, rallies and lobbying efforts at the state Capitol.

"It's a solid contract for us and for the people we serve," said Jim Hard, president of Local 1000. "It helps us catch up after three years without a wage increase."

SEIU Local 1000 represents 87,000 state employees in nine separate bargaining units. The state has a total of 215,000 employees.