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California Pay Cut ‘Just Wrong’ |
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California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) order last week to cut the pay of 200,000 state workers to the federal minimum wage of $6.65 an hour is “just wrong,” state Controller John Chiang told a state Senate hearing earlier this week. The pay-cut executive order
is based on faulty legal and factual premises….and it is just wrong….I will continue to refuse to slash the salaries of the dedicated civil servants who keep our state running.
Schwarzenegger’s pay cut—along with his terminating the jobs of more than 10,000 part-time and temporary workers—is part of the battle between the legislature and the governor over enacting a state budget that would close a $15.2 billion budget deficit. State employees are paid monthly, and the first check that will reflect minimum wage pay will be issued in September.
Schwarzenegger and his Republican allies want to make deep cuts to public service, including education, child care and public safety. Democrats want to close tax loopholes—including the tax-free yacht provision—and find new sources of revenue. The budget was due July 1, but a minority of Republicans have blocked several proposals.
Schwarzenegger claims the pay cut is needed to avert a cash crisis. Chiang reiterated what he’s said since Schwarzenegger first made his pay-cut threat—the state has enough money to pay its bills and full wages until October. He told the Senate panel the pay cut
…will do nothing meaningful to improve our cash situation.
Chiang said if the pay cut goes into effect, it will do more harm than good.
There will be a negative impact on the families that work for us, and that impact will further hurt our fragile economy…his move would harm thousands of families who already are struggling with mortgages and higher gas, food and energy costs. The loss of their spending dollars will increase the loss in consumer confidence, and further deteriorate California’s fragile economy.
California unions are mobilizing public support against Schwarzenegger’s pay cut. SEIU Local 1000, a member of the California Labor Federation, has challenged the pay and job cuts in court.
Last week in San Francisco, hundreds of AFSCME members, in town for the union’s convention, marched and held a protest rally against the pay cuts. Said AFSCME President Gerald McEntee:
The governor shouldn’t be slashing the pay of workers who make California’s government work. This is political posturing and not problem solving.
Other marches and rallies continue to take place around the state.
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8/12 N. CA Labor Protest Over Budget Cuts Initiated By SEIU 1000
We are planning a joint action with other union members from all over the Bay Area next week.
Come send a message to the Governor that we won’t stand for his Executive Order and demand that he do his job and PASS A BUDGET!
WHEN: Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
WHERE: 400 McAllister Street (between Polk and Larkin)
TIME: 12:00-12:30 RALLY on the steps of the State Building
12:30 march to the governor’s office.
Questions? Please contact Aida Mariam at amarian [at] seiu1000.org
http://www.seiu1000.org
IMO the move was ‘just stupid’. To attempt to cut the outgo of the state Arnie has also cut the income. Since these employees will be making less they will also be paying less. In taxes, that is. Also the pay cut will probably make many, if not all of them, eligible for state assistance. So isn’t the pay cut going to end up costing the state money rather than saving it any?
Good point. A strong economy does not begin with the wages at the top; it begins with wages at the bottom. Too bad corporate heads, and government, can’t see this.
“Come send a message to the Governor that we won’t stand for his Executive Order and demand that he do his job and PASS A BUDGET!”
Do you think that is only the Governors responsibility to pass the budget? Both Republicans and Democrats need to be held responsible for the budget, or lack there of.
I certainly do not agree that this was the best course of action, but what are some alternatives? Neither the Republicans or Democrats are willing to sit down and and come up with a real budget.
They just consistently want to point fingers…
The National Republicrat
http://www.nationalrepublicrat.com
The issue in California is as it is elsewhere; politicians do not have the guts to raise taxes and would rather see needed state services along with state workers go down the tubes!
California state workers must stand together and resist this draconian attempt to blame them for the economic ineptness of the TERMINATOR and his advisers!