Governor Approves New Contracts Exempting Six Unions From Furloughs
On Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed legislation (SB 486, AB 1592) to make pension changes and pay reductions effective for about 37,000 state employees who are members of six labor unions, the AP/Ventura County Star reports.
Though the deals with the labor unions differ, they include:
- AÂ requirement for employees to work an additional five years to be eligible for full benefits;
- Higher employee contributions to their pensions; and
- One furlough day per month (AP/Ventura County Star, 8/23).
Some of the contracts also will reduce health care costs for unfunded liability for retirees (Office of the Governor release, 8/23).
In addition, the agreements exempt the union workers from the governor's latest furlough order (AP/Ventura County Star, 8/23).
Union members already ratified the agreements, which affect physicians, dentists, psychiatric technicians and health workers, among other state employees (Ortiz, Fresno Bee, 8/24).
The six labor unions that reached agreements with the governor are the:
- Union of American Physicians and Dentists;
- California Association of Psychiatric Technicians;
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees;
- International Union of Operating Engineers;
- California Association of Highway Patrolmen; and the
- California Department of Forestry Firefighters (Office of the Governor release, 8/23).