Calif. furloughs prompt strike threat from union

The San Francisco Chronicle ^ | July 10, 2009 | AP

[KingofZion]

Furloughed and fired up, California's largest state employee union announced on Friday it would ask its 95,000 members to authorize a potential strike.

Officials with the Service Employees International Union Local 1000 said the union's executive council has approved putting the question to a vote. The union will ask members whether they want to fight further pay cuts.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the state's $26 billion deficit has taken a toll on everyone, from state workers to taxpayers. He asked state workers for their patience.

"As soon as our economy comes back ... then we can go and again put them all back to work. Get everyone paid full-time. I think that's the goal here," the governor said between meetings with lawmakers.

Union president Yvonne Walker said it was time to fight Schwarzenegger for imposing three-day-a-month furloughs that amount to a 14 percent pay cut for the state's roughly 235,000 employees.

She said members should not accept his latest proposal for an additional 5 percent pay cut.

"It's time to hit the governor back in his unilateral ***

The voting will take about two weeks.

[KingofZion]

I really hope they go on strike. I think that they seriously underestimate their value to the public. After about a week the public will say fire them all (as Reagan did with the ATCs) and the budget problems will be solved.

[skeeter]

Make my day.

Then the entire state will see just how nice life can be without these slackers.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Community Organizer 101.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I’m really surprised that SEIU has changed its moniker yet. ACORN sure didn’t waste any time.

[Richard Kimball]

"As soon as our economy comes back ... then we can go and again put them all back to work. Get everyone paid full-time. I think that's the goal here," the governor said between meetings with lawmakers.

I've been listening to Atlas Shrugged on audio (BTW, you can pick it up for $7.50 on audible.com with a membership) and everything I hear politicians say today is a near quote from the book. Unfortunately, it's always a quote from the bad guys.

If the unions go on strike and the state doesn't pay them, that would go a long way towards balancing the budget.

[MediaMole]

A strike is better than a layoff or furlough.

They can’t get unemployment and the govt. doesn’t have to pay them.

[4Speed]

Ilinois had an early retirement offer a few years back, right as Blagojavich was elected, 10,000+ took the offer. More than expected....after the date of retirement...the state kept on humming along as if they didn’t need the SEIU overstaffed dead weight. No Impact on services.

Time for California to hire replacement workers, end the SEIU contract, and maybe even hire Illegals to take their place ?
Wishful thinking......but possible.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

"As soon as our economy comes back ... then we can go and again put them all back to work. Get everyone paid full-time. I think that's the goal here," the governor said between meetings with lawmakers.

So Arnold thinks the goal is to put government employees back to work. He's spent too much time around Kennedys.

[Godzilla]

Yep, it would help the budget greatly.

[healy61]

The State had best cave in on this one. Here are the problems: 1)Who would work for those wages, hours, holidays, insurance and benefits. and 2)Since the State is rolling in IOU’s, why bother? s/

[null and void]

We don’t have to pay them as long as they are on strike, right?

The longer they are on strike the more the unions’ political war chests become depleted, right?

I’m not seeing much of a downside here...

[Need4Truth]

California could fire all of the furloughed workers and it would not save the state enough to balance the budget.

“The California budget deficit is $26 billion now and counting. Shortfalls are rising every day as is interest on IOUs. California could fire all 200,000+ state workers on forced furloughs and still not balance its budget!”

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/

Cali is almost totally screwed. This IS series and hugh.

[George from New England]

“Cali is almost totally screwed.”

Not exactly.

The feds and Obami will take entire countries resources to keep the unions intact.

[ridesthemiles]

SEIU is a union of thugs- no education- absolute minimum skills, and 1000% attitude.

Won’t miss any of them. They are parasites.

[skeeter]

Illegal aliens cost the state about 15 billion a year.

Nah, that would make too much sense.

[Amerigomag]

Please, please go on strike.

Governor, please, please fire them all and then demand that the remaining rank and file clean up their own workspace and rest rooms each evening before going home.

[umgud]

How much is strike pay? Hope it’s enough to run the unions dry so they’ll have fewer dollars for upcoming elections.

[Gator113]

Strike, strike, please oh please fricken strike!!!

[Navy Patriot]

maybe even hire Illegals to take their place ?

Brilliant, fill state offices with illegals and watch how quick the spoiled state employees that are exposed to them suddenly confirm that illegals ARE a big problem.

"Where's my laptop? It was here a minute ago."

[Achilles Heel]

Ahnuld keeps saying the illegals and their many benes are not the problem..thick headed.