Half of California's Unions Agree to Deferred Wage Increases

[demdave]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Half of California's bargaining units have agreed to defer wage increases to minimize layoffs, a concession that would save the cash-strapped state $195 million, officials said.


Gov. Gray Davis had wanted the unions to agree to $855 million in reductions this year. But even if all 21 bargaining units agree to the deals cut now with 11 of them, it will save the state only $470 million. Davis spokesman Steve Maviglio announced the agreements Wednesday.



http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAVBJY2HKD.html

[shanti]

1. many of the depts. are STILL talking layoffs

nothing has changed...

[demdave]

2. What has changed is the number of potential layoffs.

While not getting all the savings needed, they got over half. I would hope that would eliminate some layoffs.

[shanti]

3. not from what i've heard...

(right in the thick of it). also, the current layoff plan is just for this year. they are still talking about more cuts for next fiscal year. it is very very ugly. the citizens of california will be extremely upset when all of this comes down...

[shanti]

4. here's the sacramento bee's version of this story

(snipped of course)

No staff cuts till after the election?
Davis' finance director says the full picture won't be known until then.
By John Hill -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Thursday, September 11, 2003

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/budget/story/7393104p-8336582c.html

Gov. Gray Davis' administration says it is unlikely to approve plans for substantial reductions to the state payroll until the middle of next month.
That makes it likely that the impact of the cuts -- in thousands of layoffs and in reduced state services -- won't become public until after the Oct. 7 recall election.

Davis' finance director, Steve Peace, said he wants to hold off until his office gets a complete picture of how the reductions will affect state services. Cuts in one part of the budget, he said, might conflict with reductions elsewhere.

Also, Peace said, he wants to avoid sending out layoff notices until he is sure they are necessary.

But in the politically charged environment leading up to the recall election, in which Davis is struggling to save his job, some see an attempt to postpone the fallout, in layoffs and service reductions, of the budget Davis signed last month.

Republican lawmakers said the administration has been reviewing reduction plans for more than a year.

"Last year, this guy held all the bad news until after the election," said Assemblyman John Campbell, R-Irvine. "There's no reason to think that he would do anything different this year."

*snip*