Schwarzenegger again orders cut in state workers' pay

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday officially ordered most state workers’ paychecks slashed to the federal minimum wage -- $7.25 per hour --  now that California has entered a new budget year without a spending plan.

State Controller John Chiang, who issues the paychecks, has said he would not obey the order.

Debbie Endsley, state Department of Personnel Administration director, said in a letter to Chiang on Thursday that he “has no legal authority to pay state employee wages” above the federal minimum wage when there’s no budget in place.
 
Under the order, state employees’ pay would be reduced as of July 1, although most workers’ checks are not issued until the end of the month. Once a budget is signed, state employees would receive full back pay.

The Schwarzenegger administration last ordered Chiang, a Democrat, to cut workers’ wages in 2008. Chiang refused. Schwarzenegger took him to court and won. An appeals court heard the case last month and has yet to rule.

The instructions from Endsley on Thursday exempted more than 37,000 state workers who recently reached tentative contract agreements with the administration after being offered immunity from such wage cuts.

-- Shane Goldmacher in Sacramento

Photo credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Tristan]

Somebody Stop This Maniac!!! We removed the last Governor for Much Less than things that Arnold has done. This Moron will have us all begging for change if he is re-elected and we've already proven ourselves as a state to be dumb enough to vote for him in the first place and keep him here this long. I just wish I lived in Sacramento and happened to see him alone. Not saying anything specific, but He and I would have a real good talk and he's not as "smart" as he was when he was younger...

Thank you Californians (or as the steroid pumper would say Cauliflowerians) for causing this. Anyone who ever voted for him, please hang a cowbell around your neck so I won't hit you with my car by mistake. I would hate to take out an animal that has the intelligence of a cow, but not as much value. You would do a lot of damage to my car and I couldn't even recover that by selling the carcass.

[S.]

The Govenor needs to pack his bags and move on. He is constantly trying to use these pressure tactics on the back of State workers who have no control over the budget. Maybe he should take a few furlough days and receive minimum wage for his poor relationship with the legislature representatives. He is hurting state workers who are loosing their homes due to 15% pay cuts and constant attacks from his sorry plan. When people lose pay, they lose homes which means they don't pay property taxes. Figure it out.

[S.]

I appreciate Chiang standing up for state workers. Maybe the Govenor needs some more law suits because he just bullies people without researching the consequences.

[Jonathan Osborn]

Let there be no misunderstanding here. This has nothing to do with the lack of a state budget. This is simply Arnie displaying his Republican, anti-labor colors. He can go take a flying leap...

[Ben Packard]

Who, in political stature, is taking pay cuts? How pissed are thousands of state employees now?

[Terri B]

This event truly saddens me and just really ticks me off.

People are losing food off their tables, money for medical coverage, money for the basic needs of their children and the child care that allows them to work and pay taxes that our state needs so badly.

What ticks me off is that I received an email alert stating those on Capital Hill voted to keep their pay the same. If I understand right the officials on Capital Hill are state paid workers. I want to know why they are not being cut to 7 something an hour. They sit smug in their comfy chairs all secure in the fact they are untouchable, not caring about the people, their employers, at all it seems.

If I knew a way to get it on this Novembers ballots that they would all take a 50% cut in pay, pay 50% of their benefits, be allowed 10 days vacation and ten sick days a year, be docked for every day after that they miss work days, I would be first in line to sign for it to be placed on the ballot.

Although my vote counts for little these days, I am not even sure why we vote. The majority speaks and wins, some one does not like it, they hire a judge, have the vote overturned and prove voting was a waste of time and money. A ballot measure like I described would be overturned in 30 minutes or less I am sure.

Anyways, I wish there was a way to get a California government that cared about the people instead of comfy chairs, fine looking lawns and fighting like children over their square of the sandbox.

[Lisa]

I know a way to save money... CHECK THE IMMIGRATION STATUS ON EMPLOYEES or the COMPANIES THE STATE CONTRACTS WITH ... Wait that would mean accountability and admitting guilt.

[Mark]

How was Chiang NOT FIRED for failing to do his job?? Hey Chiang, I can't wait until you lose YOUR job, you moron!

[Eve]

If he's so concerned why doesn't he donate some of his millions to the general fund? The legislators salaries should be cut too until they pass a balanced budget. Let them feel the pain the Arnie is inflicting on thousands of families.

[Eden]

I am a state worker and this hurts. But let's start with everyone on the legislature, majority of course are Democrats! Pay them the minimum, so they will stop thinking about a bunch of bills that should not be priorities.

They wasted their time (again) writing about a bunch of nanny laws! Instead they should have focused on the budget. I guess their brains could not produce relevant decisions, so they focus on trivial laws instead! What a bunch of dimwits! Why do you guys keep voting them in? That is where the problem lies. Go Arnold!

[Efrain Rojas]

Hey state employees, how does it feel? If you don't like it, join the rest of us in the private sector-where the wealth for your salaries is generated. How much are you really worth? Join us and find out.

[kuruc]

no budget, no paychecks. ja ja ja . ca the illegal welfare state. give it back to mejico, all ca politicians too.

[Jackie]

How many times does Arnie have to break the Law before Citizens say enough is enough. Arnie continues to say he is learning and doesn't speak english well as an excuse for committing crimes. Like his Republican friends Arnie thinks he is a Dictator not a Governor. Looks like Californians might want this policy to continue with Meg in charge. With Meg State Workers would be working for nothing as we all hail Queen Meg. Arnie is an embarrassment and an idiot who is making the State look like fools. Just think Republicans wanted this idiot to be President of the USA. Moon Beam Brown can't get in office fast enough as he will have to clean up the mess Arnie made.

[Bob Johnson]

And yet not a single worthless state worker slob has been laid off, like the 12.5% of the private sector who pay their obscene salaries and benefits.

[John Galt]

Just pass a budget.

[rae]

Why did we elect this dummy in the first place.

[rae]

WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mich]

Yeah what an idiot this guy has no clue. We get the shaft while the Welfare System and Prison inmates are not affected what so ever. And we are the ones paying taxes! We have mortgages, cars, and he wants to take our livelihoods to nothing. I wouldn't put my life on the line for seven dollars an hour. He needs to be removed from office already and we need to not put Meghan in his spot either. What a joke this guy!!!

[Delbert]

A sure sign of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting different results. Hmmmm? Sure does look like somebody in Sacramento is COMPLETELY NUTS!!!

[hey there]

Let's see: Welfare recipients taking cash out of their State provided ATM cards at casinos, card rooms and where ever else they can AND State workers have to take pay cuts and deal with furloughs! Your Welfare dollars at work. And the Governor & Legislators are doing NOTHING about the influx of illegal immigrants. WONDERFUL!! I suppose these folks think they are working? Excuse me. And our Governor says he'll look into . ... Like WHEN? When the state is absolutely penniless? What's wrong with this picture? Swarzenegger and his cronies are a complete and utter TRAIN WRECK!

[Carol]

HA HA!!!! Now you state workers know how the rest of us struggling feel.

Next time you act all snooty remember you make less then the people who flip hamburgers at in-n-out!!!

[Bill]

The instructions from Endsley on Thursday exempted more than 37,000 state workers who recently reached tentative contract agreements with the administration after being offered immunity from such wage cuts.

So if my union doesn't agree to Arnold's contract I get minimum wage. But if we sign the a contract, I get my full pay. Hmmmmm.

So he doesn't have to pay minimum wage, he just want to be a a bully. I call that EXTORTION.

[Silverlake Mike]

Gray Davis, please come back. We were only kidding!

[Bob]

Let's cut ol' Arnold's pay to minimum wage. But first, let's confiscate his savings so he can see what it is really like.

[Bob]

To Tristan: Don't worry. Arnold cannot run again for Governor because of term limits. The Republican nominee in the upcoming election is Meg Whitman. Now, let's not vote for her, okay? She would be worse!