Ask Nancy: Proposed pay cuts
Dear Nancy:
Last year when the governor announced his budget he talked about furloughs and those furloughs went into effect right away. This year the governor has said he is cutting my pay by 5%, increasing my PERS contribution by 5% and then possibly another 5% pay cut if he doesn't get money from the federal government. Are these pay cuts effective immediately as well?
Thanks!
- Cash Strapped, Los Angeles
Last year when the governor announced his budget he talked about furloughs and those furloughs went into effect right away. This year the governor has said he is cutting my pay by 5%, increasing my PERS contribution by 5% and then possibly another 5% pay cut if he doesn't get money from the federal government. Are these pay cuts effective immediately as well?
Thanks!
- Cash Strapped, Los Angeles
Dear Cash in Los Angeles:
Thank you for the question. The short answer is no. The difference between the governor's announcement on furloughs last year and the proposed pay cut this year is that the furloughs were done by an Executive Order of the Governor (which Local 100 challenged the legality of and won). However, the law is very clear on pay cuts and they can't be done by the governor unilaterally. Our Local 1000 contract, California Government Code, California state law (the Dills Act), the state constitution, and the United States Constitution all preclude a unilateral pay cut of union-represented employees. Any changes to salary, working hours or retirement must be negotiated with employee unions and approved by the Legislature. Local 1000 will be fighting very hard against any pay cuts for state employees and we will keep fighting until a final budget is passed this summer or fall.
- Nancy Farias
SEIU Local 1000 Legislative Director