Tell Your State Lawmakers to Oppose Mandatory Furlough

Please join CAPS in strongly opposing Governor Schwarzenegger’s legislation to impose unfair salary and benefit cuts on state scientists.

The Governor’s proposals (http://www.gov.ca.gov/press-release/10966/) seek to require the lame-duck State Legislature to enact several measures to increase revenues and slash spending. The Governor is expected to propose legislation that would: 

• Impose a mandatory unpaid furlough of one day per month for all state employees. This equates to a five percent pay cut.
   
• Eliminate two state holidays, Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12), and Columbus Day (second Monday in October).
   
• Change the law to result in loss of overtime for those required to work on a state holiday and eliminate use of leave credits in the calculation of overtime.

The Administration proposes no compensating measures for the proposed pay and benefit cuts. In short, the Governor plans to end-run and ignore the collective bargaining process.

Even IF the above changes are enacted, the general fund savings from Unit 10 would be minimal because nearly 80% of state scientists are paid from special funds.

You can help by urging your current state lawmakers to vote NO on state employee unpaid furloughs and benefit cuts!!!

CAPS has prepared this simple message that you can edit to your personal style, then the system will automatically fax your letter to your state Assembly and Senate representative.

Thanks for your help!