Psychiatric Technicians Union Sues To Block Mandatory Furloughs
On Friday, the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians filed a lawsuit challenging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) order requiring furloughs for state workers, the Sacramento Bee's "State Worker" reports (Ortiz, "State Worker," Sacramento Bee, 1/26).
Earlier this month, Schwarzenegger announced a plan that will close most state offices on the first and third Fridays of the month as part of an effort to address the state budget deficit, projected to reach $40 billion over the next 18 months.
State hospitals and prisons will not be subject to the closure, but employees still would be required to take off two days each month unpaid (California Healthline, 1/12).
The suit maintains that the order would violate the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, arguing that psychiatric technicians would not be fully compensated for their work under the plan.
The lawsuit is separate from other cases unions have filed challenging the furlough plan ("State Worker," Sacramento Bee, 1/26). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.