Post by crudo on Jun 23, 2006 13:52:04 GMT -5
State Workers Authorize Strike, Talks Continue
(AP) SACRAMENTO Leaders of the largest state employees union announced Monday its members had overwhelmingly approved a strike, but said negotiations would continue in advance of a Thursday deadline.
The union, Local 1000 of the Service Employees International Union, represents a diverse group of 87,000 state workers -- including accountants, information technology specialists, prison cooks and Department of Motor Vehicles employees.
They have worked under an expired contract for nearly a year and gone without a raise for nearly three years.
Nearly 85 percent of the union's members voted to authorize a strike.
Union leaders said they hope the strike vote intensifies negotiations. They want the state to agree on wage and benefit increases by Thursday, when the Legislature is scheduled to vote on the state budget that would take effect July 1.
"We need to see our money in that budget," said Danny Beagle, spokesman for the local.
The Legislature's budget vote has no bearing on the state's ability to continue negotiating, or lawmakers' ability to approve a raise later on, but union leaders said they want the assurance of seeing their higher wages set in black and white in the budget.
"We will do what it takes to get a decent raise and fair contract," said Jim Hard, the local's president. "We hope the governor knows we are serious about calling a strike."
Lynelle Jolley, spokeswoman for the state's Department of Personnel Administration, said the agency has offered a wage increase, but she declined to say how much. The agency has also agreed to reduce some proposed increases in employee health care contributions and other costs, Beagle said.
"We are prepared for all kinds of contingencies," Jolley said, referring to the possibility of a strike. "But we're still making steady progress so that's our focus -- the bargaining table."
A strike may not be as dramatic as the union's size would suggest, Jolley said. Union officials have indicated not all their members would walk off the job at once, she said. The union would also have to give the state 10 days notice before beginning a strike.
The state has 215,000 employees altogether.
Another group trying to pressure lawmakers to amend the state budget held a protest Monday on the steps of the state Capitol.
About 20 members of the Sierra Club and a handful of lawmakers held up surf boards and banners blasting a small appropriation aimed at moving forward a planned six-lane toll road through San Onofre State Beach, the state's fifth most popular park.
The road, which still requires approval from several agencies, would improve travel between Orange and San Diego counties. Critics say it would ruin one of the coast's best surfing spots.
(AP) SACRAMENTO Leaders of the largest state employees union announced Monday its members had overwhelmingly approved a strike, but said negotiations would continue in advance of a Thursday deadline.
The union, Local 1000 of the Service Employees International Union, represents a diverse group of 87,000 state workers -- including accountants, information technology specialists, prison cooks and Department of Motor Vehicles employees.
They have worked under an expired contract for nearly a year and gone without a raise for nearly three years.
Nearly 85 percent of the union's members voted to authorize a strike.
Union leaders said they hope the strike vote intensifies negotiations. They want the state to agree on wage and benefit increases by Thursday, when the Legislature is scheduled to vote on the state budget that would take effect July 1.
"We need to see our money in that budget," said Danny Beagle, spokesman for the local.
The Legislature's budget vote has no bearing on the state's ability to continue negotiating, or lawmakers' ability to approve a raise later on, but union leaders said they want the assurance of seeing their higher wages set in black and white in the budget.
"We will do what it takes to get a decent raise and fair contract," said Jim Hard, the local's president. "We hope the governor knows we are serious about calling a strike."
Lynelle Jolley, spokeswoman for the state's Department of Personnel Administration, said the agency has offered a wage increase, but she declined to say how much. The agency has also agreed to reduce some proposed increases in employee health care contributions and other costs, Beagle said.
"We are prepared for all kinds of contingencies," Jolley said, referring to the possibility of a strike. "But we're still making steady progress so that's our focus -- the bargaining table."
A strike may not be as dramatic as the union's size would suggest, Jolley said. Union officials have indicated not all their members would walk off the job at once, she said. The union would also have to give the state 10 days notice before beginning a strike.
The state has 215,000 employees altogether.
Another group trying to pressure lawmakers to amend the state budget held a protest Monday on the steps of the state Capitol.
About 20 members of the Sierra Club and a handful of lawmakers held up surf boards and banners blasting a small appropriation aimed at moving forward a planned six-lane toll road through San Onofre State Beach, the state's fifth most popular park.
The road, which still requires approval from several agencies, would improve travel between Orange and San Diego counties. Critics say it would ruin one of the coast's best surfing spots.