Posted on 02/27/2009 8:06:18 AM PST by SmithL
State workers' pay can be cut to the federal minimum wage when lawmakers miss California's annual budget deadline, a Sacramento Superior Court judge has tentatively ruled.
Assuming the ruling stands, it's a win for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a fight that started last summer when Controller John Chiang refused to cut paychecks that paid about 200,000 hourly state workers $6.55 per hour, the federal minimum. Exempt or salaried employees would get $455 a week.
"(The tentative decision) is encouraging, and it's important so that the state has the ability to control spending in tough economic times," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. "But we're awaiting the court's final decision."
Because lawmakers passed a budget last week, the ruling would have no immediate effect. Still, state workers such as Susan Felt were stunned.
"I'm shocked. I can't believe it," said Felt, an 11-year employee with the state. "Everything else that's been happening, and now this."
In recent weeks, Schwarzenegger has furloughed workers and persuaded lawmakers to change state overtime policy and remove two days from the state's paid holiday schedule. Many state worker unions are in contract talks.
The Service Employees International Union Local 1000, which as the biggest state labor organization represents 95,000 workers, has tentatively agreed to a deal that includes a mix of concessions and gains.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Many private firms are reducing salaries, hourly wages, and benefits in order to avoid laying off experienced and valuable employees. No downside doing the same thing in the public sector.
Hmmm sounds to me like when it's all over they will wind up with double-pay when furloughs are announced. That's the way the auto exces negotiated.
How does this save money? If they aren't on paid holiday, they are working...getting paid!
lawmakers too will have to have their salaries reduced to minimum wage..oh, wait..nevermind..
I bet this really bothers the various government workers’ unions, unless there are make-up pay provisions. This would be analagous to a “cumulative dividend” for a shareholder, which is a rather rare from of security these days.
My employer has said no raises this year, and perhaps a cut in the year to come. I doubt it will be anything as draconian as going to the minimum wage but I am content with the freeze..
Cutting their wages down to minimum wage? That should get rid of a few!
Because you gain man hours, thus oy need fewer people if you take out two paid holidays per year you get 16 more hours of work per person. With 200,000 employees that’s 3.2 million man hours or enough hours to cover for 1,500 employees.
At an average salary of 50K or so thats a savings of 75 million.
And they will still be over paid.
“The Service Employees International Union Local 1000, which as the biggest state labor organization represents 95,000 workers, has tentatively agreed to a deal that includes a mix of concessions and gains.”
Certainly NOT in NEW YORK...
the way I see some govt workers work, I agree with you.
Guv employee salaries should be cut 20% across the board, executive salaries capped at $150k, all legislatures changed to part-time (6 months), all taxes reduced to whatever was their lowest rate in the last 25 years, all budgets reduced by 20%, and progressive taxation must end. For a start. Guv is the reason we're in the state we're in. Too much guv is what's ruining America. What Reagan said.
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alot of people will take the time off anyway, in the long run it’ll save by forcing them to use vacation time rather than giving them free time.
it’ll cut down on backlogs- that’s 2 more days that they’ll “earn” their pay
possibly on overtime- don’t know how cali is but in MI, they count the 8 hours holiday before regular work hours. so if you work extra, you get overtime.
for people that have to work holidays- don’t know their pay schedule for it, but having to pay time and a half or double pay or more adds up quick
then there’s the people that get called in. this is my dad’s favourite thing. his pager goes off, he gets 3 hours pay, minimum, even if it takes him 30 seconds on the phone to fix it. it’s probably going to be overtime, and if it’s a holiday that’s added on to make it even more. if he has to go in, pay gets ridiculously high.
Send them home and pay them nothing. Society would see a net benefit.
State workers’ pay can be cut to the federal minimum wage=ok now you can hire all the mexicans you want now.
not to defend state workers, but why on earth are they being punished? why not cut off pay and benefits for lawmakers - who are the ones not doing their jobs?
I’ve been thinking about trying to boycott anything that unions were involved in. I just have to figure out how to boycott SEIU unions.
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