Furloughs
December 22, 2011
CA State Supreme Court Declines to Hear Case on Corrections Furloughs
The state Supreme Court yesterday denied review of a First District Court of Appeal decision allowing the state to furlough unionized correctional officers.
The court voted 6-0 to allow the ruling in Brown v. Superior Court (California Correctional Peace Officers’ Association), A127292, to stand. The First District’s Div. Two ruled in October that the three-day-per-month furlough program initiated during Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration is lawful as applied to facilities manned by employees represented by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association....
LINK - MetNews.com
October 3, 2011
CCPOA Furlough Case Update
Memo updating CCPOA members regarding the Furlough Case...
September 22, 2011
Court may rule on CCPOA furlough case any time
Several State Worker blog users have asked about the status of two furlough cases in San Francisco's 1st District Court of Appeal. The short answer: The court could issue rulings in either case any day now.
CCPOA v. Brown (formerly CCPOA v. Schwarzenegger) is the government's appeal of a lower court's ruling that "self-directed" furloughs are an illegal pay cut, since employees lost their pay but were often forced to put off taking the commensurate time off.
Attorneys argued the case on Aug. 18. Legal types we've spoken with believe that this is the strongest of the union furlough cases, since it's about whether the policy violated labor law...
LINK - SacBee.com
August 19, 2011
Justices hear CCPOA ‘self-directed’ furlough case
The arguments are in. Now a panel of appellate justices must decide whether the state illegally furloughed some 32,000 correctional officers by cutting their pay by up to 15 percent per month but deferring the commensurate time off.
In documents filed in San Francisco's 1st District Court of Appeal and during courtroom debate on Thursday, lawyers for the California Correctional Peace Officers Association said the so-called "self-directed" furloughs were an illegal pay cut...
LINK - SacBee.com
August 9, 2011
A ‘shout out’ to correctional officers
They are the wall that separates the wolves from free society and permits every one of us to sleep soundly at night and go throughout the day without much worry. They are the ones who put themselves directly in harm's way so that we aren't. They are the ones who run and watch over our prisons so that we can live free to do pretty much everything we want to do that brings us -- and ours -- joy and happiness. They are the ones who confront threats to their lives every single day while they make sure that inmates get the care the courts say is prisoners' due. They are the ones getting gassed and stabbed, sworn at and derided. They are the ones who face assault with calm control, who manage masses of inmates who would rather see them bleeding or dead.
It's rather a sad commentary on us that many cannot see and appreciate this. Our correctional officers are an academy- trained, professional class of civil defenders whose only job it is to vouchsafe the safety of the rest of us who aren't walking their beat. It's also a sad commentary that many can't see beyond the misinformation spread about pay levels and benefits paid to those without whom we'd all be in deep trouble...
LINK - Bakersfield.com
July 26, 2011
Oral argument scheduled in CCPOA furlough case
Attorneys for the California Correctional Peace Officers Association and the Brown administration will have a chance to make oral arguments next month in the key outstanding court case on state employee furloughs.
A decision had been expected any day based on written briefs filed late last year and early this year, but the 1st District Court of Appeals announced this afternoon that it has scheduled a hearing for Aug. 18.
CCPOA initially won the case, and after some legal maneuvering the state was successful in getting the appellate court to consider the case...
LINK - SacBee.com
July 20, 2011
Sac Bee blogs about pending CCPOA furlough case
Prompted by our recent posts on the "special fund" furlough cases in the state's 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco, several blog users have called and emailed for the status on the fourth -- and legally distinct -- furlough case, CCPOA v. Schwarzenegger.
This gets a bit complicated, so hold on ...
Unlike the "special fund" cases before the 1st District Court, CCPOA won in the trial court by arguing that cutting their members' pay and then giving them the time off at a later date was a de facto pay cut...
LINK - Blogs.SacBee.com
March 23, 2011
Leave balances, furloughs and pay outs to state workers - especially in CDCR
One public employee received a $594,976 lump-sum payment from the state when he retired last year; another got $553,253.
The two - a surgeon and a dentist who provided care to prison inmates - topped the list of some 300 state employees who left or retired from their state jobs in 2010 and collected six-figure payments for unused vacation and other paid time off accumulated during their careers, according to records obtained from the state controller's office.
The records reflect a widespread failure by the state to control the amount of paid time off that employees amass. State policy caps the number of vacation hours an employee is allowed to bank at 640 hours - or 16 weeks - and sometimes higher for public safety workers. But many agencies do not enforce the limits...
LINK - SFGate.com
March 15, 2011
Contract Agreement Reached
After the roughly 3 month contract negotiation process with Governor Brown’s administration, we have reached a tentative agreement on a successor MOU at 5 a.m. The tentative agreement expires July 2, 2013 and contains enhancements as well as concessions...
March 8, 2011
Correctional Officer Furloughs - $1 Billion Liability
California prison guards and their supervisors have racked up 33.2 million hours of vacation, sick and other paid time off - an astounding accumulation that amounts to nearly half a year per worker.
It also adds up to a $1 billion liability for taxpayers of the deficit-plagued state.
Poor management at California's prisons has for years allowed workers to stock up on generous amounts of paid time off - a benefit that employees must either use or cash out when they retire. But the numbers swelled when former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger imposed furloughs in 2009, forcing prison guards and their supervisors to take unpaid days off each month to help save state cash...
LINK - SFGate.com
March 3, 2011
Unions ask Alameda Superior Court judge to stop furloughs
Five of six state employee unions without contracts whose members are furloughed three days per month have asked an Alameda Superior Court judge to stop the policy.
Professional Engineers in California Government, California Association of Professional Scientists, California Correctional Peace Officers' Association and California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges, and Hearing Officers in State Employment are the union plaintiffs in the lawsuit now before Judge Steven Brick.
The Association of California State Supervisors, which speaks on behalf of management-level exempt workers, is also a party to the lawsuit...
LINK - SacBee.com (The State Worker)
January 21, 2011
Update: Newton v. Schwarzenegger
Re: Newton v. Schwarzenegger, No C 09-5887
Dear Plaintiffs and Consenters:
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the District Court's decision in the Newton v. Schwarzenegger, Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) case.
On January 13, 2011, Judget Vaughn R. Walker heard the parties' arguments in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco. On January 14, 2011, the Court issued its decision (see attached)...
Please continue reading the full memo from CCPOA as well as the official court decision documents below.
January 14, 2011
CCPOA furlough lawsuit rejected by federal court
A judge in San Francisco has struck down a class action lawsuit over correctional officer furloughs that alleged the policy violates federal labor laws. The case is the first furlough litigation orally argued by state attorneys since Gov. Jerry Brown took office on Jan. 3.
"We are disappointed in the court's ruling today and will be reviewing the decision to determine what steps to take next." said Ryan Sherman, spokesman for the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, which backed the lawsuit.
The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker comes just one day after arguments in Newton v. Schwarzenegger. The case argued that "self-directed" furloughs of correctional officers violated the Fair Labors Standards Act. The case applied only to members of Bargaining Unit 6...
LINK - SacBee.com
January 13, 2011
Federal furlough case set for hearing today
Newton v. Schwarzenegger is set for hearing in San Francisco's U.S. District Court today at 10 a.m.
The class-action case, which applies only to members of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, is challenging furloughs as a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The arguments in this December 2009 complaint include:
- Cutting pay but deferring the furlough time off violates the law because employees aren't paid in full for hours worked within a given pay cycle.
- Time worked on an unpaid furlough day should be calculated in figuring overtime.
- The state hasn't kept adequate payroll records...
LINK - SacBee.com
November 22, 2010
UPDATE: CCPOA files appellate brief in ‘self-directed’ furlough case
The California Correctional Peace Officers Association filed a 42-page brief on Friday, arguing that the California Supreme Court's furlough ruling last month didn't wipe out an Alameda judge's earlier ruling that "self-directed" furloughs are illegal.
"The governor says that the (Supreme Court's) ruling is a big blanket that you can throw over all furloughs," said Gregg Adam, one of the attorneys with San Francisco law firm Carroll, Burdick & McDonough, which represents CCPOA. "Obviously, we disagree."
Self-directed furloughs deduct an employee's pay at the furlough rate of roughly 15 percent per month, but the time off is deferred. The 32,000 or so correctional officers represented by CCPOA continue to work under self-directed furloughs. They're among the roughly 63,000 state workers represented by unions without current labor pacts...
LINK - SacBee.com
October 29, 2010
A State Senate Race that Really, Really Matters
By Allysia Finley, Wall Street Journal's Political Diary
October 22, 2010
Memo from Chuck Alexander re: PML 2010-027 Furlough Program
Yesterday, the Department of Personnel Administration issued a new PMLto all Personnel Officers, which was forwarded to you by Perry Speth.
This PML states:
"Effective November 2, 2010 furloughs will be self directed. All State agencies and departments must ensure that employees take their three furlough days off within the pay period their total compensation is adjusted."
It is our belief that this is an attempt by DPAto convince the Appellate Court that all Unit 6 members are furloughed the same as those employees covered by the recent Supreme Court decision regarding furloughs. We are in the process of developing and submitting an information request seeking the CDCR plan that complies with this "new" furlough program...
October 12, 2010
CCPOA Memo re: DPA, Furloughs and Pension Contribution Issues
To: State Board of Directors
From: Chuck Alexander, CCPOA Executive Vice President
Date: October 11, 2010
Re: DPA, Furloughs and Pension Contribution Issues
The latest information regarding the just-passed state budget for Unit 6 members is as follows.
The budget bill authorizes the governor to impose furloughs or institute other cost-saving measures on employees in five bargaining units including CCPOA. This authorization was approved in order to attain the $600 million in employee compensation reductions as required by the budget...
October 8, 2010
EC Budget Update
The California Legislature passed the State Budget early this morning. Members of the CCPOA Executive Council and the CCPOA Legislative Division held an all night vigil in the State Capitol during this process. We were successful in keeping the “pension reform” as written from achieving the required two-thirds votes for passage. However, in the early morning hours the Legislature gutted another bill, loaded the pension reform into that bill and passed it with a simple majority vote.
Considering the fiscal state of the state we made it quite clear, as we have all along, that we were more than willing to agree to pension reform and possible concessions in return for our work place rights (an MOU). The legislative leadership either would not or could not stand up to the Governor on behalf of the men and women in this profession...
October 7, 2010
September 24, 2010 - CCPOA Conference Call
Members of the CCPOA Executive Council and Legal Team made themselves available via telephone conference to answer questions about current events and the upcoming elections.
Running time: approximately 27 minutes.
October 4, 2010
Memo: Today’s California Supreme Court ruling upholding the furloughs
At my request, our legal team prepared the following short summary of today's 84-page decision by the California Supreme Court:
The Supreme Court issued a decision today in three cases relating to the Governor and Department of Personnel Administration's ("DPA") February 2009 furloughs program on State workers. CCPOA was not a party to those cases, but the Court's decision may have some impact on cases we have filed on behalf of the members.
The Court ruled against the Governor and DPA on every ground they relied on for implementing the furloughs. The Court stated that there was no legal authority to take such action. Nonetheless, the Court ruled that the Legislature legitimized the furloughs through its February 20, 2009 passage of a revised budget...
October 1, 2010
A Guide to Furloughs Litigation
By Gregg Adam and Jonathan Yank
Despite rumors of a pending state budget deal—which may or may not end the present round of furloughs—Unit 6 members remains subject to the onerous terms of the Governor’s furlough orders and CDCR/DPA efforts to implement them. Employee salaries are reduced by 15% and—to add insult to injury—many (if not most) of our members actually work on their “supposed” furlough days...
September 9, 2010
Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in Challenge to Furloughs
Attorneys for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger argued to the California Supreme Court yesterday that the governor did not exceed his authority when he furloughed state employees and used his veto power to further cut budget appropriations already reduced by the Legislature.
The governor’s lawyers rejected arguments challenging Schwarzenegger’s Dec. 19, 2008 executive order which unilaterally imposed mandatory two-day-a-month unpaid furlough. They also said that the governor’s line-item veto power applied to provisions in a mid-year emergency bill that reduced appropriation amounts of a previously enacted budget bill.
The high court heard the arguments in proceedings in San Francisco broadcast live on television and on the Internet by public affairs cable television network The California Channel...
LINK - MetNews.com
September 2, 2010
Schwarzenegger, union argue furlough case next week
If the bitter furlough battle between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state employee unions happened to be a heavyweight fight, Wednesday would be the final round.
After nearly two years, 40 lawsuits and more than $1.2 million in state legal bills, the California Supreme Court will hear debate next week over whether the governor has illegally forced state workers to take unpaid days off from work. Here's a brief guide to the 9 a.m. hearing and beyond:
The stakes.Enormous, starting with the bank accounts of more than 200,000 state workers who have lost nearly 50 workdays and close to a combined $3 billion or so in pay since February 2009...
LINK - SacBee.com
August 18, 2010
Court Orders “Stay” of the Furlough TRO
Today, CCPOA was back in Alameda Superior Court regarding the new round of furloughs. The presiding Judge has taken the matter under consideration pending a possible ruling by the California Supreme Court.
As this was being written, the California Supreme Court issued a "stay" of the TRO issued last week, and granted the Governor's request for review. The case is set for oral argument on September 8, 2010...
August 12, 2010
Furlough Case Update 8/12/2010
Today at 11:00 CCPOA was in Alameda Superior Court for our TRO hearing regarding the newround of furloughs. As we were assigned to be heard in Judge Roesch's Court, the State exercised an objection and our case was assigned to another judge...
August 10, 2010
Furlough Case Information
Late yesterday, the Alameda Superior Court issued an injunction against the State relative to the imposition of the latest furlough order. This injunction DOES NOTapply to Unit 6, however we also plan to be in court this week or early next week, seeking the same injunctive relief...
August 9, 2010
BREAKING NEWS: Judge says Schwarzenegger can’t impose new furloughs
An Alameda County Superior Court judge Monday temporarily barred Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from imposing new furloughs on state workers beginning Friday.
Judge Steven A. Brick ruled after hearing more than two hours of arguments over the governor's demand that about 144,000 state employees take unpaid time off.
The judge granted a temporary restraining order, saying that it appears that the governor's executive order is inconsistent with various provisions of state law...
LINK - SacBee.com
August 5, 2010
DPA Memo re: 2010 Furlough Program Effective August 2010
Per Executive Order S-12-10, DPA has adopted a Furlough Program effective August 1, 2010 for all State employees, except those in State agencies and departments identified below. Employees will have three furlough days on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Fridays of each pay period. The first furlough Friday is August 13, 2010. Salaries will be reduced to reflect the furlough days, but benefits will remain the same...
August 2, 2010
Life on furlough: Working 12 months for 11 months pay
...While some places ask workers to give up just a few days, elsewhere it can be much worse. California, for example, requires employees to take off three unpaid days a month, while Hawaii is mandates 18 days a year through mid-2011.
For the states, this effort is racking up big savings. That's helping to close the enormous budget gaps many states face. In California, the 14% pay cut has saved the state $2.8 billion in its first 17 months and $147.2 million per month now.
But for workers, the furloughs can be equivalent to losing as much as a month's pay each year. For Dwight Weatherford, it has meant filing for bankruptcy...
LINK - Money.CNN.com
July 29, 2010
The State Worker: Schwarzenegger’s latest furloughs pick winners and losers
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Wednesday furlough order did something different: It picked winners and losers.True, his earlier furloughs and this one exempt the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the California Highway Patrol. Schwarzenegger considers them key public safety organizations and didn't want to dilute their resources.But his new order exempts six other departments. That's significant because the governor has always said that, to be fair, furloughs should be applied across the board...
LINK - SacBee.com
July 28, 2010
Furlough Alert - July 28, 2010
WEST SACRAMENTO — Along with the other bargaining units in the state, CCPOA was notified a short while ago that Governor Schwarzenegger will render an Executive Order imposing 3 furlough days per month beginning with the August pay period that will impact employees’ September 1 pay check. This Executive Order is in effect until a new budget is in place.
DPA made note of all groups that will be exempt from the furloughs, including special funded agencies and public safety employees. However, CDCR employees were NOT INCLUDED in this exemption as public safety employees. DPA stated the furlough impositions are a direct result of a worsening budget situation and a state that is running out of cash.
We will post the declaration on the CCPOA website as soon as we receive it. Please stay tuned to CCPOA website for updates.
For more information please contact JeVaughn Baker at (916) 372-6060 or jevaughn.baker@ccpoa.org
OFFICIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER: S-12-10 @ www.gov.ca.gov
OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION: #15693 @ www.gov.ca.gov
Note: Proclamation title says "State of Emergency - Kern County Wildfires" but the subject is the budget/furloughs.
July 14, 2010
CCPOA Case Update Memo to State Board
I have been asked to provide a brief status report regarding the major cases we have pending in various legal venues. This update covers only those issues being handled by CB&M. I will prepare an update for in-house cases and PERB's within the next few days.
Furloughs - As you are aware, we prevailed in Superior Court and are presently awaiting a decision from the Appellate Court. There is no time frame the Court is required to meet relative to issuing a decision...
July 14, 2010
Nevada prison chief seeks furlough exemption
CARSON CITY – The director of the state Department of Corrections is taking steps to hire more officers in the aftermath of a decision by the state Prison Board on Tuesday to delay closure of the aging Nevada State Prison in Carson City.
Director Howard Skolnik said he will ask the state Board of Examiners next month to exempt correctional officers at prisons from an unpaid one-day-a-month furlough.
On Wednesday, he set in motion efforts to hire 50 more officers at the Carson City prison and the prison in Lovelock...
LINK - LasVegasSun.com
July 13, 2010
FLSA Collective Action: Newton v. Schwarzenegger
The CCPOA Legal Department represents three Correctional Officers who brought a lawsuit in Federal District Court for the Northern District of California claiming that California’s furloughing of correctional employees, while still requiring them to report to work, violates federal labor law. The Federal Judge has now allowed these three Officers to be class representatives of all BU6 members who want to become members to the lawsuit. The suit is different than a normal class action lawsuit because Correctional Officers who want to take part in it must opt-in and become a “consenter” to the lawsuit by filling out an opt-in/consent form...
July 2, 2010
Governor and Minimum Wage Issues in the News
UPDATED: 7/2/2010
A defiant Chiang accuses governor of 'political tricks' (7/1/2010)
In a strongly worded rebuke, state Controller John Chiang said Thursday that he would defy Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s order to slash the pay of state workers until "the courts hand down a final resolution."
Chiang, a Democrat, said the pay cuts will "do nothing to solve the budget deficit" because state employees are entitled to their back pay once a budget is in place. “In the absence of the leadership needed to bring the Legislature to an agreement on his budget, the governor again resorts to political tricks," Chiang said in a statement...
LINK - LATimes.com
- CLICK HERE for more articles/links on this subject...
June 25, 2010
CDCR Captain says the furloughs “really aren’t a bad thing”
Mary Jane Esponda, a 58-year-old business service assistant for the state Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, said the furloughs — three mandatory unpaid days off a month — cost her the house she owned for nine years.
The furloughs “changed everything,” she said.
“I didn’t make enough money,” she said. “I couldn’t keep my house.”
Last July, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, looking to cut costs, ordered furlough days for about 200,000 state employees...
LINK - BizJournals.com
June 11, 2010
State Supreme Court to review worker furloughs
The state Supreme Court said Wednesday that it would review two of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's moves to slash state spending without legislative approval - cutting nearly $500 million from the budget and furloughing 200,000 state employees three days a month.
In separate orders, the court granted a hearing to Democratic leaders and social service agencies appealing Schwarzenegger's July 2009 line-item vetoes and broadened its review of the governor's furlough authority.
Schwarzenegger ordered most state employees to take two days a month off without pay in February 2009 and added a third furlough day in July, saying the state would save $1.4 billion a year...
LINK - SFGate.com
June 2, 2010
Furlough Case Update/Briefs
The following briefs from the CCPOA furlough case are available for our members below. We apologize for the oversight in not posting these items sooner, however these are the final briefs on the furlough case. The case is now fully submitted and we are waiting to hear back from the court on this matter.
May 24, 2010
Prison furloughs causing future financial liabilities to mount
Implemented to help the state sock away $2 billion, the governor's furlough order imposed on prison guards may end up eating away half the savings in the long run.
"Prisons don't close three Fridays a month," said Chuck Alexander, a vice president of California Correctional Peace Officers Association. "This governor saved a couple of bucks yesterday, but the next one will have to pay three bucks tomorrow."
Custody staff's growing vacation and holiday leave balances that were compounded by furloughs represent a future liability to the state of at least $546 million and could be more than $1 billion, state Auditor Elaine Howle warned in a report issued last week...
LINK - DailyBulletin.com
May 21, 2010
Correctional officers living in tents to draw attention to paycuts
The signs across from Kern Valley State Prison in Delano inform motorists they're driving by "Arnold's Labor Camp #1" and "State Worker Refugee Camp #1." If that doesn't grab a driver's attention, the variously colored tents set up a couple of hundred feet from the roadway should.
As of Tuesday, about 50 correctional officers had set up at the site, and 50 to 100 more are expected by the end of the week, said Sgt. Ian Pickett, corrections and community advocate with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association. The purpose of the camp is to demonstrate the worst-case scenario correctional officers face if they have to deal with more paycuts...
LINK - Bakersfield.com
April 22, 2010
Supreme Court rejects Schwarzenegger furlough consolidation
The California Supreme Court has rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's request that it take up seven key furlough lawsuits now in two appellate courts and freeze more than a dozen others in trial courts around the state. The decision ends the possibility for a relatively quick resolution to about two dozen furlough lawsuits in courts around the state.
The court posted the decision on its website this morning: "The application to transfer and consolidate appeals now pending in the Court of Appeal to this court is denied." Justice Joyce Kennard dissented.
Schwarzenegger is embroiled in 25 active lawsuits in various stages of litigation in courts from Sacramento to Los Angeles. On Mar. 2, his attorneys asked the state's high court to consolidate and review seven cases related to the governor's furlough authority, including a three Alameda Superior Court decisions on "special fund" workers that the administration lost and has appealed...
LINK - SacBee.com
April 20, 2010
Furlough Summary
April 2, 2010
Governor files opening brief in CCPOA furlough appeal
With all the recent furlough court action, we're just now getting to the latest development in the fourth of the four Alameda cases ruled on by Judge Frank Roesch and now with San Francisco's 1st District Court of Appeal, CCPOA v. Schwarzenegger.
When we last left this case, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's legal team had won a decision from the appellate court to temporarily block Roesch's order to end self-directed Corrections furloughs pending a resolution of the appeal or another order from the appellate court.
On Feb. 26, the appellate court denied CCPOA's motion to dismiss the governor's appeal, although it also said the union's arguments about the timeliness of the appeal had merit. The court said it would treat the appeal as a request for a writ of mandate and set a schedule for the two sides to submit documents to support their positions...
LINK - SacBee.com
March 1, 2010
Furlough Case Update/Memo
State Board,
On Friday, February 26th 2010 the Court of Appeal issued a decision relative to our pending furlough appeal. Contrary to the missive written by the Sac Bee on its State Worker Blog. CCPOA DID NOT lose. As you may recall, CCPOA asked for the Court to dismiss the appeal filed by the State. They did.
March 1, 2010
Furlough Case Update/Memo
State Board,
On Friday, February 26th 2010 the Court of Appeal issued a decision relative to our pending furlough appeal. Contrary to the missive written by the Sac Bee on its State Worker Blog. CCPOA DID NOT lose. As you may recall, CCPOA asked for the Court to dismiss the appeal filed by the State. They did....
March 1, 2010
Furlough Case Update/Memo
A memo was sent to the State Board today with regard to the furlough case: "On Friday, February 26, 2010 the Court of Appeal issued a decision relative to our pending furlough appeal. Contrary to the missive written by the Sac Bee on its State Worker Blog, CCPOA DID NOT lose. As you may recall, CCPOA asked for the Court to dismiss the appeal filed by the State. They did...
February 23, 2010
Alameda County Judge to issue furlough judgments soon?
The Alameda Superior Court judge who ruled against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in three union-backed furlough lawsuits said this morning that he will issue final decisions in those cases within one week.
Judge Frank Roesch made that commitment in his Oakland court room to attorneys representing Schwarzenegger, SEIU Local 1000, the Union of American Physicians and Dentists and California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment. The group convened to debate how to apply the judge's December decisions that some aspects of Schwarzenegger's furlough order violate the law. (Click here for more about those decisions.)
A fourth furlough case that Roesch ruled on involving members of California Correctional Peace Officers' Association, was not part of today's proceedings...
LINK - SacBee.com
January 25, 2010
A Letter to Matt Cate
On behalf of Bargaining Unit 6 Members, CCPOA's Executive Vice President Chuck Alexander has written a letter to Matthew Cate, Secretary of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with regard to furloughs...
January 25, 2010
Schwarzenegger coming after unions - again
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has put organized labor squarely in his cross-hairs in 2010, opening a fight that will largely determine the shape of his final year in office.
Schwarzenegger's proposals would cut the size of the union workforce, reduce pay, shrink future pensions and roll back job protections won through collective bargaining.
Labor and the unions' Democratic allies are already girding for battle.
"It's a continuing jihad against organized labor," said Steve Maviglio, a Sacramento-based Democratic strategist. "The governor thinks public employee unions are Enemy No. 1."…
LINK - LATimes.com
January 22, 2010
Furlough Case Updates 1/22/10
Memo from Chuck Alexander and the documents filed by CCPOA in rebut to the State's latest appeal maneuver of last week, the "Opposition to Petition for Writ of Supersedeas"...
January 19, 2010
Editorial: “Governor needs to be fair with CCPOA workers”
As the wife of a California correctional officer I am compelled to respond to the article in the Record on Thursday,Jan.14, 2010. ("Governor fights prison guard furlough ruling").
Since our budget crisis started, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) have forfeited approximately 15% of their income.
Additionally they do not receive holiday or overtime pay when they are worked. The governor is now seeking another 5% cut in wages and increase their pension contribution another 5% for a total of about 25% lost income…
LINK - MantecaBulletin.com
January 16, 2010
Ruling halts California prison pay tied to furloughs
An appeals court handed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a furlough lawsuit win Friday over Controller John Chiang and the union representing the state's correctional officers – at least for now.
The ruling by San Francisco's 1st District Court of Appeal temporarily keeps Chiang from restoring the state's 30,000 prison officers and their immediate supervisors to full pay for the time that they work.
The controller had said he would eliminate a pay reduction imposed on the guards in keeping with an Alameda judge's decision in December that so-called "self-directed" furloughs at prisons violate labor law. Such furloughs allow the state to cut workers' pay but defer the time off…
LINK - SacBee.com
January 13, 2010
CCPOA responds to Gov’s appeal and threat if he loses
The Schwarzenegger administration said it would file an appeal Wednesday in a lawsuit over his furloughs of state workers, contesting a decision by the controller to restore pay for prison guards.
Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered some 200,000 state employees to take three days off a month without pay, cutting their paychecks by 14 percent to help close the state's budget gap. The California Correctional Peace Officers Association sued, arguing that guards are losing three days' pay each month, but can never take the time off because prisons operate around the clock.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch sided with the 30,000-member union last month. On Tuesday, state Controller John Chiang said he intends to restore guards' full pay to comply with that ruling. The guards' court victory does not affect about two dozen other union lawsuits opposing the furloughs…
LINK - PE.com (The Press-Enterprise)
January 12, 2010
New furlough dispute brews between controller and Schwarzenegger administration
State Controller John Chiang told Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration today that he intends to end forced furloughs for state correctional officers this month, prompting a threat from the governor's office to dock other pay from state prison workers and resort to layoffs.
If Chiang follows through on his decision and it is not overturned, the prison guards would be the largest group of state workers to have succeeded in overturning the forced furloughs that have been in effect for a year and amount to a 15% reduction in pay…
LINK - LATimesblogs.LATimes.com
January 11, 2010
An officer’s wife speaks out on furloughs
Prison guards have been living with furlough days since last February.
During the past 11 months, dozens of lawsuits have been filed and are pending against furlough days. Some of the verdicts that are pending would order the state to pay back the money that was taken from state employees who took furlough days.
Although these workers would be receiving big checks, some say it's too late. Eyewitness News talked with one woman who is married to a prison guard. For the sake of her husband's job, she wanted to remain anonymous…
LINK - BakersfieldNow.com
January 5, 2010
Editorial: “Prison guards working with no pay”
I love those tales that go around about correctional officers and how they are overpaid, underworked and sucking the system dry with their overtime. Quite good tales, huh? More like fairy tales!
I have never seen a harder working group of people in my life. Like the officer attacked at California State Prison-Sacramento, here is a group of people who go to work every day and put their lives in danger for the safety of the people of California.
They even come to work when they are "furloughed."
LINK - ModBee.com
January 3, 2010
Furlough Frustration?
Feeling frustrated regarding having to work for free? Want to let the Governor know how you feel? Well, here is the phone number to the Governors office (916) 445-2841. Please be sure to remain professional and whatever you do don't call from a state phone. Those who have called so far have not been treated with respect, so be prepared to be told that you are "lucky" to make the money that you do. If you feel like it, send an e-mail of your conversation with our loving Governors staff to nichol.gomez@ccpoa.org for possible publication. Also, you may want to take the time to contact your local legislators district office and let them know the hardships this decision by this Governor is causing you and your family. You can find your legislator by clicking on this link leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html and then entering your zip code.
Take Action! Call The Governors Office (916) 445-2841
January 2, 2010
Gov promises jobs while threatening lay-offs and furloughs?
Governor Schwarzenegger Highlights Priorities for 2010, Wishes Californians Happy New Year in Weekly Radio Address:
An English audio link of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's weekly radio address is below.
English:
The 2-minute, 4-second address is available at http://gov.ca.gov/mp3/press/20091211_address.mp3. The file is 489 KB.
…That is why my New Year's Resolution is to help speed up our economic recovery and create a job for every Californian who wants one.
My Number One priority is jobs, jobs, jobs.
And in my State of the State Address next week, I will announce a job creation package to help spur job growth and jumpstart our economy…
LINK - Read the FULL Message at gov.ca.gov
December 23, 2009
Breaking News: Schwarzenegger budget plan will include furlough, layoff options
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to save $1.6 billion in state employee costs by maintaining monthly furloughs past next June, instituting layoffs or shifting general fund workers into positions financed by other revenues, according to sources familiar with the governor's forthcoming budget proposal.
California faces a $20.7 billion general fund budget deficit through June 2011, according to an estimate by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office. Schwarzenegger ordered an estimated 200,000 state workers to take two furlough days a month starting last February and then three per month starting in July to save an estimated $1.4 billion in general fund dollars. Under the governor's new budget proposal, furloughs could continue beyond the scheduled end date of June 2010…
LINK - SacBee.com
December 22, 2009
Union says overtime hours at PDC skyrocket
Hundreds of psychiatric technicians at the Porterville Developmental Center have accumulated massive amounts of overtime, according to new statistics that one union says cost taxpayers up to $180,000 in November alone.
The California Association of Psychiatric Technicians (CAPT) found that its 759 local members worked 5,900 hours of overtime in November—a 257 percent increase since September.
The state-run hospital for the severely mentally disabled is grappling with maintaining a staff-to-client ratio while implementing unpaid furloughs.
"This is a big concern for us," CAPT consultant Brady Oppenheim said. "Our concern is for the taxpayers who are having to foot the bill…"
LINK - RecorderOnline.com
December 17, 2009
Official Statement: CCPOA Wins Furlough Lawsuit, Reiterates Offer to Help Legislature Reduce Costs
West Sacramento, CA - An Alameda Court judge today ruled that the Governor's order to "furlough" California's correctional peace officers - which has reduced their pay but requires them to work their full schedule - was an illegal pay cut that violated labor law, and that the more than 30,000 officers, sergeants and lieutenants "are due their full pay for time worked."
"It's unfortunate that we were forced to file this lawsuit in the first place, but we're obviously pleased that the court ruled to protect these officers' rights," said Mike Jimenez, President of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA). "We made numerous attempts to work with this Administration to find better, more legitimate ways to cut corrections costs, but we were rebuffed. Legal action was our last, and only resort.
"However, we once again extend our cooperation and assistance to the State Legislature and Department Secretary to help identify sensible cost savings measures within the corrections system," said Jimenez. "We've proactively offered savings and reform recommendations on a nearly annual basis - and will be releasing our latest "New Direction" blueprint on corrections reform in January."
View the full decision and read another statement from CCPOA re: the lawsuit at ccpoa.org.
December 17, 2009
Schwarzenegger reacts to Alameda ruling
We just got off the phone with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's spokeswoman, Rachel Arrezola. We had left a message with the administration this morning asking for a reaction from the governor to CCPOA furlough lawsuit win.
Here's the statement Arrezola read:
"Over the last year all areas of state government have been forced to cut back and do more with less as the state has dealt with closing a $60 billion deficit. The governor has made the difficult but necessary decisions to cut spending and order furloughs and he will continue to stand firm to protect taxpayers and move California forward…"
LINK - SacBee.com Weblogs
December 17, 2009
Judge rules furloughs invalid for prison guards
A state judge today struck down Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furloughs of correctional officers, who have been working on furlough days and banking the unpaid time off.
Judge Frank Roesch of Alameda County Superior Court ruled that the governor's furlough order violated state law. He ordered the state to pay the prison workers for the unpaid hours they have worked.
To save money, Schwarzenegger last summer began furloughing for three days a month nearly every category of state worker…
LINK - LATimes.com
December 17, 2009
Judge: Schwarzenegger can’t furlough prison guards
A judge has ruled against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furlough order for thousands of California prison guards.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch on Thursday sided with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association and ordered the state to pay prison guards back for the days they worked without pay….
LINK - Google.com (AP News)
December 17, 2009
Correctional officers win furlough lawsuit
An Alameda Superior Court judge has ruled that furloughs Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered are illegal for state prison officers whose pay is reduced but who have to wait to take the time off.
The order by Judge Frank Roesch means that roughly 40,000 state correctional officers, their sergeant and lieutenants are due their full pay for time worked.
The judge's order commands Schwarzenegger "… to pay all employees represented by (the union) in this action of all hours worked for which furlough credits have not been utilized…"
LINK - SacBee.com
December 17, 2009
CCPOA files new federal lawsuit against Schwarzenegger over furloughs, federal labor law violations,
A federal class action accuses California of violating labor laws by ordering state workers to work during furlough days, and promising them a day off later. The class of prison and correctional workers reported their grievances to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis in June; now they want action.
The California Correctional Peace Officers Association, a major political force in California, claims that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his administration are violating federal laws on wages and hours, overtime and record keeping…
LINK - CourtHouseNews.com
November 17, 2009
Judge hears challenge to California furloughs
Lawyers representing unions and a few government agencies pounded away at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furlough policy for nearly five hours in Alameda Superior Court on Monday.
They argued the policy is illegally harming the government, that it's an executive overreach, a violation of minimum wage laws and irrational because it applies to nearly all state workers – even those whose pay reduction doesn't directly help California's deficit-ridden general fund.
"The Terminator can sweep the machine guns and count the bodies, friend or foe, later," said Harvey Liederman, who was representing the California Public Employees' Retirement System and the California State Teachers' Retirement System…
LINK - FresnoBee.com
November 16, 2009
Unions blast furlough order
Lawyers representing state worker unions and a few government agencies pounded away at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furloughs for the better part of three hours this morning in Alameda Superior Court, arguing that the policy is illegally harming the government, an overreach, a violation of minimum wage laws and outrageously irrational.
And that was in just two cases brought by California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment and California Correctional Peace Officers Association to Judge Frank Roesch's Oakland courtroom. SEIU Local 1000 and Union of American Physicians and Dentists will argue their cases this afternoon.
Roesch took both cases under submission and he'll probably do the same with those he hears this afternoon, which means he's going to think about what he's heard and issue a ruling later. That could take several days or several weeks…
LINK - SacBee.com
October 29, 2009
Judge tentatively rejects coordinating furlough cases
Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley has tentatively ruled against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's motion to transfer and coordinate furlough lawsuits in San Francisco and Alameda courts to Sacramento. Here's a significant passage from the six-page ruling:
Taking all of the section 404.1 factors into account, the Court concludes that coordination of the Included Actions in Sacramento would not promote the ends of justice.
As to the Special Fund cases, there are virtually no factors supporting coordination of those cases with the Psychiatric Technicians case…
LINK - SacBee.com
October 21, 2009
Study: Furloughing at 24-hour facilities doesn’t save
Furloughing employees at 24-hour care facilities could end up costing more in the long run than it saves in the short term, according to a study released this month by the state Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes.
The situation could create additional, significant costs for taxpayers down the road because furloughs aren't eliminating but instead are pushing labor costs to the future, the report says.
"Some state jobs cannot stop for furloughs," the report says, "most prominently the care and supervision of prison inmates and people with serious developmental disabilities and mental illnesses."
Under an executive order from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in July most state workers began taking three unpaid days off per month, the equivalent of a 14percent pay cut for the 2009-10 fiscal year…
LINK - SBSun.com
September 9, 2009
Nevada realizes prison furloughs won’t solve budget problems
The head of Nevada's prison system Tuesday said his fears of requiring correctional staff to take furloughs were exacerbated by last month's prison riot in Southern California.
Howard Skolnik reiterated to the state Board of Examiners that he doesn't believe furloughs at state correctional institutions can be safely implemented.
In August, 175 inmates were injured during a riot at the California Institution for Men in Chino, where seven of eight housing units were left uninhabitable.
"On the day they had their incident, approximately 15 percent of their officers were on furlough," Skolnik said. "I personally don't believe that having those officers present would have stopped that incident from taking place, but I think 15 more staff could have significantly reduced the time and amount of damage that was done…"
LINK - MercuryNews.com
August 18, 2009
Editorial: “Prison no place for indiscriminate penny-pinching”
If you know people who work at Pelican Bay State Prison (and who doesn't in Del Norte County?) be kind to them. They are probably feeling under siege.
There's a tendency to think of the 1,500-plus Pelican Bay workers as the lucky ones around here, pulling in wages and benefits equal to their counterparts in more expensive parts of California. Certainly they earn more than most of the local work force, and we should all be thankful for that because the prison payroll is obviously a big driver of our region's economy.
So we're not saying feel sorry for them. Just be kind to them…
LINK - Triplicate.com
July 27, 2009
Special to the Bee: A Letter from Chuck Alexander
With California now reduced to passing out IOUs to cover its growing debts and its credit rating in free fall, the governor's refusal to even consider, let alone enact, any of these cost-saving proposals is puzzling.
We recently offered to reduce future pension obligations, alter sick leave provisions and make other contractual changes that would save California taxpayers more than a billion dollars annually, all of which were flatly rejected by the Schwarzenegger administration. While Sacramento police and firefighters are receiving accolades from local officials for making contract concessions during tough times, our governor has summarily rejected any and all attempts by California correctional peace officers to do the same.
July 9, 2009
Gov seeks 20% total cut in state worker pay
State workers, brace yourselves for another furlough day.
The governor's latest budget proposal assumes almost 20 percent in employee wage cuts: 15 percent from the three-day furloughs that started this month, plus another 5 percent across-the-board whack.
"Three days (furlough) plus the 5 percent," said H.D. Palmer, Department of Finance spokesman when asked Wednesday to clarify the governor's budget proposal.
The Legislature won't go for the pay cut, but the governor can then add a furlough day for reasons we'll explain…
LINK - SacBee.com
June 30, 2009
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Sticking It to “America’s Best”
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is accomplishing right now what he failed to do in 2005 when he tried to put the state's major labor unions out of business and downsize the state government. At that time there was no economic catastrophe to point to as an excuse to shred the social safety net. But today, thanks to an economic crisis his good friend George W. Bush gave us, he's launching a frontal assault against virtually all of the state's public sector institutions. California Republicans have always hated social programs they believed mirrored Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and they've tried in good times and in bad to dismantle them. Now they're seizing the current crisis to enact their wildest free-market fantasies.
"No matter the nationality, no matter the religion, no matter the ethnic background," Schwarzenegger told an adoring crowd at the 2004 Republican National Convention, "America brings out the best in people. And as governor of the great state of California, I see the best in Americans every day — our police, our firefighters, our nurses, doctors, and teachers, our parents."
And now he's proudly sticking it to those same people he praised so fulsomely five years ago when it was politically expedient for him to do so…
LINK - HuffingtonPost.com (Slow-loading page, but worth the wait!)
April 24, 2009
To Save Money, States Turn to Furloughs
Licenses for same-sex marriages were supposed to be issued in Iowa starting this Friday. But because of a crimped state budget, court employees will be on mandatory furlough that day and the courts will be closed. Gay couples cannot start filing for their licenses until Monday.
As they try to cope with gaping budget deficits, at least 15 states from every region — like Alabama and Georgia in the South; Arizona, California and Washington in the West; and Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York in the Northeast — are in various stages of considering or carrying out furloughs.
"This may very well be the most widespread use, or consideration of use, at least since the emergence of the post-World War II economic boom," Robert Bruno, professor of labor relations at the University of Illinois, Chicago, said of furloughs…
LINK - NYTimes.com
April 14, 2009
C/Os Protest Paycuts at Salinas Valley
Like other state employees, correctional officers at Salinas Valley State Prison are required to take furlough days and their paychecks reflect the reduction in pay.
They just aren't getting the day off, at least not for now.
The officers are among the prison guards represented in a lawsuit filed by the California Correctional Peace Officers' Association against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state for what it says is a unilateral and illegal wage cut.
Association spokesman Ryan Sherman said Salinas Valley is one of the prisons whose wardens have said they don't have enough staff to cover furloughs without paying overtime. As a result, Sherman said, officers' paychecks are being cut 10 percent and they are not getting a day off…
LINK - MontereyHerald.com
April 13, 2009
Internal Affairs: What happened to Schwarzenegger’s layoffs, anyway?
State workers will not be spared layoffs
A few months back, it looked as if California government might join the ranks of employers letting go of their workers in droves. For the time being, though, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is holding off on his threat to lay off 10,000 state employees.
What changed? One big factor was the budget deal that the guv cinched with legislative leaders in February. That helped close a $40 billion budget hole (although another big gap is re-emerging as the economy continues to sputter).
And part of the budget deal forced state workers to take one- or two-day-a-month unpaid furloughs through mid-next year, so it's not as if they're getting by unscathed…
LINK - MercuryNews.com
March 23, 2009
Prison guard union files claim against state over furloughs
State corrections officers are having to work for free rather than take state-mandated furlough days because of understaffing and the dangerous nature of prison work, according to a claim filed against the state last week.
While the furloughs have created hardships for numerous state agencies, prison and union officials said the policy has left prisons in an especially tough spot.
"Unfortunately, we're 24-7, and we've got to continue to provide services and security," said Lt. Michael Stout of the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa…
LINK - SignonSanDiego.com (San Diego Union-Tribune)
March 19, 2009
The State Worker: Prison officers’ suit calls furloughs an illegal pay cut
The union representing the state's correctional officers has sued Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, contending that his furlough plan for its members amounts to an illegal pay cut.
The lawsuit, filed in Alameda Superior Court on Friday, differs from a half-dozen other lawsuits that have tried – and so far failed – to overturn the governor's twice-monthly furloughs. Those disputed his authority. This one, filed by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, says the order can't be executed.
Schwarzenegger ordered furloughs for roughly 238,000 state workers that started in February and reduced their pay by a proportional 10 percent. The state will save an estimated $1.4 billion through the furloughs and other payroll devices over 17 months. The order expires in June 2010…
LINK - SacBee.com
March 17, 2009
Governor’s Executive Order
Attached is a writ of mandate, along with the a copy of the claim for damages, that was filed on March 16, 2009 with regard to the legality of the furlough program. This claim was filed so that we can seek monetary damages should we prevail in court.
March 12, 2009
Schwarzenegger can furlough constitutional officers’ employees, judge says
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can furlough about 15,000 state workers employed by constitutional officers and the Board of Equalization, according to a tentative ruling issued this morning by a Sacramento Superior Court judge.
The ruling from Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette, if made final, rejects arguments that because constitutional officers are independently elected they should control their own employees
The ruling in a lawsuit brought by the Republican governor against State Controller John Chiang affects employees in Chiang's department and those under Attorney General Jerry Brown, Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Lt. Governor John Garamendi and the independent BOE…
LINK - SacBee.com
March 5, 2009
States shave workforce to save money
California is the leader in furloughing; about 238,000 state workers are being forced to take off the first and third Fridays of each month, known as "Furlough Fridays." The days off, which began in February and are slated to continue until mid-2010, amount to a 9.3 percent pay cut.
State employees at around-the-clock facilities, such as prisons, can choose what days they take off, but according to a California Correctional Peace Officers Association spokesman, the shortage of prison guards means that guards can't take furloughs. So most state prison guards still work their usual hours — at the same time their pay is cut.
"In essence, our members are working for free," said the association's Lance Corcoran. "We still have 160,000 inmates and we're going to continue to have inmates. The reality is, their doors need to be open, they need to be fed, they need to be supervised."
Corcoran, who is also a state correctional officer, says his reduced salary is affecting his family. "I'm looking at the potential of losing my home, we're cutting costs everywhere we can … As state employees, not only are we getting the reduction in pay, we're subject to a higher income tax, higher sales tax , so it's a double-whammy for us," he said…
LINK - Stateline.org
February 10, 2009
Schwarzenegger: Layoffs coming if no budget by Friday
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration warned Tuesday that it will begin proceedings to lay off thousands of state workers if the governor and legislative leaders do not reach a budget deal by Friday.
Notices would go to employees with the least seniority in the state's corrections and health and human services departments, as well as in other agencies that receive money from the state's general fund, said Schwarzenegger's communications director, Matt David.
The move is part of the governor's order to cut 10 percent from the government payroll as California faces a $42 billion deficit through June 2010. "This is simply a matter of needing to realize savings and running out of time to do that," David said…
LINK - MercuryNews.com
February 10, 2009
Governor to lay off workers if no budget deal
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will send layoff warnings to 20,000 state workers Friday if the Legislature has not approved a deal to close California's $42 billion gap, the governor's spokesman said today.
"We don't have a budget and there's only a few things that the governor can do to save the state money," said Aaron McLear, a Schwarzenegger spokesman.
The lowest-seniority employees in each department who are paid by the state's general fund would get the layoff notices, although the number of jobs eliminated would be 10,000, McLear saidCutting the jobs would save the state $150 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year, which begins July 1, McLear said…
LINK - SFGate.com
February 7, 2009
Prison, parks workers start taking pay cuts
As many of California's government offices close today for the first of two monthly furlough days that the governor says will help ease the budget crisis, a large portion of Del Norte County's more than 1,700 state workers will clock in as normal.
That doesn't mean these employees are exempt from the pay reductions; rather, it's the 24-hour nature of the agencies they work for — particularly at Pelican Bay State Prison — that require staggering the furlough days.
"Many of our operations, like state parks, are a 24/7 operation," said Jeff Bomke, the acting superintendent for Redwood State Parks' Redwood Coast Sector. "We need to have the flexibility for which employees are furloughed."…
LINK - Triplicate.com (The Daily Triplicate)
February 6, 2009
Union seeks immediate halt to furloughs
The union that represents California's state attorneys and administrative law judges has asked a court to immediately stop furloughs that started today and are keeping thousands of state workers home.
The petition by California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges, and Hearing Officers in State Employment, known as CASE, asks Sacramento's 3rd District Court of Appeals to delay the unpaid days off scheduled for the first and third Fridays of each month while it considers arguments to permanently end them.
CASE attorney Patrick Whalen said the court could quickly decide whether to grant the delay…
LINK - SacBee.com
February 5, 2009
State furloughs begin Friday
You won't have to worry about lines at the DMV Friday — because it will be closed, along with a host of other state offices.
Friday marks the beginning of the two-day-a-month state worker furloughs ordered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger — the first in state history.
Confusion reigned Thursday as state officials sorted through who should come to work and who should say home. A state judge in Sacramento last week upheld the governor's order, but it remained unclear whether the order applied to employees of state constitutional offices. Employee unions said some workers got conflicting information from supervisors…
LINK - FresnoBee.com
February 3, 2009
Unions file furlough appeal
The two unions that have been leading the state worker furlough fight have filed an appeal to last Thursday's ruling by Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette.
Professional Engineers in California Government and California Association of Professional Scientists disagree with Marlette's decision that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's emergency power includes furloughing state workers…
LINK - SacBee.com
January 21, 2009
BREAKING NEWS: Controller will halt state furloughs
Democratic State Controller John Chiang said Wednesday he will refuse to reduce state worker pay as demanded by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, possibly sparing more than 200,000 public employees from furloughs and pay cuts.
The move by Chiang, who is responsible for issuing state payroll, could require the Republican governor to obtain a court order to implement his twice monthly furlough plan.
Chiang filed documents Tuesday afternoon in Sacramento Superior Court arguing that the governor's plan is illegal…
LINK - SacBee.com (The Sacramento Bee)
December 24, 2008
O.C. plans 60 more layoffs amid protests
Faced with a gaping budget deficit, Orange County officials disclosed plans Tuesday to lay off nearly 60 Probation Department employees and to start releasing some juvenile criminal suspects rather than holding them in juvenile hall.
Word of the cutbacks came the same day that 1,000 angry workers stormed the Orange County Hall of Administration to protest previously announced plans to lay off 210 social services employees.
The social services cuts stem from a steep reduction in state funding that county officials said left them with no option but to eliminate jobs. In addition to the layoffs, the county has disclosed plans to require 4,000 social services employees to take two weeks off without pay next year….
LINK - LATimes.com (The Los Angeles Times)
