California state employee unions face tough bargaining

[Mugu]

By Andy Furillo

For the state public employee unions whose contracts come up this year, the timing couldn't be worse. It's a bargaining season where an $8 billion budget deficit provides the economic backdrop, and just about all the parties agree the atmosphere surrounding the talks is going to be dismal.

"It's sort of like having Christmas during the Depression," said Terry McHale, a lobbyist who represents the California Department of Forestry Firefighters.

A union known as the California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges & Hearing Officers in State Government offers an example of the difficulty facing state workers this year.

The lawyers say they are so far behind in their pay scales and the state's proposals so lacking that they went to court to see whether they could go out on strike – against their client, the government. A judge denied the request.


Complete article at:
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/805182.html

[jody]

1. Either pay cuts or lay offs seem certain. n/t

[jody]

2. Dupe deleted. n/t