Largest Calif. employee union OKs pension changes (and pay cuts)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SAMANTHA YOUNG

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Members of California's largest state employee union approved a contract Tuesday that cuts pay by nearly 5 percent for 95,000 government workers and rolls back pension benefits, a move that will protect them from more sweeping government furloughs.

About three-quarters of those who voted ratified the Service Employees International Union Local 1000 contract, after union leaders reached a tentative agreement last month with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The contract was approved in October by the Legislature as a provision in the state budget and is part of Schwarzenegger's attempt to control pension costs across all of state government.

The terms of the SEIU contract go into effect immediately for employees in a variety of state jobs, including information technology professionals, custodians, office technicians, accountants, levee inspectors and non-prison guard personnel at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

SEIU Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker said the concessions in the contract, which runs through July 2013, earned state workers long-term job and pension security.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20101110/AP05/311109992

[madrchsod]

1. this is the trend across america...

my wife`s contract is up next year. they are hoping to keep the same contact but modify some of the work rules and seniority problems.

[indimuse]

2. now it's the top 2%'s turn!

end the cuts now! wher are the jobs boehner??huh?

[discocrisco01]

3. When Do the Feds Get Hit

When are the Federal Employees are going to get nailed on this issue?

[MrsCorleone]

4. Well, this is just fantastic!

:sarcasm:

This will suck even more money out of CA's economy. Just perfect.