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Gov. Jerry Brown, unions seek deal at bargaining table

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As California’s leaders race to finish the state budget by June 15, Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposals face a crucial test on Saturday.

Brown wants to save $402 million through a 5% reduction in state worker costs, and negotiations with the largest union of state workers, SEIU Local 1000, begins in the morning in Sacramento. It’s unclear when a deal could be announced.

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The governor has suggested shifting some state workers to a 38-hour, four-day workweek. SEIU 1000 President Yvonne Walker has signaled that she’s open to the idea, saying last month that ‘it could be a good thing.’

SEIU 1000 represents about half of the state’s 182,000 employees, meaning that a deal with the union would go a long way to helping Brown reach his money-saving goal.

The union plans to update its members during a town hall meeting Saturday at 3 p.m. The meeting will be broadcast live at seiu1000.org.

The Sacramento Bee reported Friday that the California Highway Patrol union had agreed to once-a-month furloughs for its members. Lynelle Jolley, a spokeswoman for the Department of Personnel Administration, confirmed the agreement, which will reduce compensation by 5%.

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-- Chris Megerian in Sacramento

twitter.com/chrismegerian

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