SCIF Furloughs End, Legislators Request Civil Service Furlough Reduction

SCIF Furloughs End

The State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) has ended furloughs after a judge's written order echoed a previous finding that the furloughs were illegal. Both SCIF and SEIU Local 1000, which represents 6,260 SCIF employees, believe the finding entitles employees to back pay. The governor's office plans to appeal the ruling, and says back pay isn't addressed in the judge's decision.

Legislature Asks for Reduction in Civil Service Furloughs

Legislative leaders have asked Governor Schwarzenegger to cut civil service employees' furlough days from 3 per month to 2 per month, citing financial damage to the state resulting from the furloughs.

A Senate review found potential long-term costs resulting from the furloughs, Steinberg said. One example is in the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where workers have had their pay cut but are banking furlough hours for future use. Prison workers already have accumulated 1.6 million hours that they will have to take off someday, the review found.

Links

• Furloughs rejected for some state workers (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Legislature's leaders ask Schwarzenegger to trim state workers' furlough days (Los Angeles Times)
• State's workers pay for furloughs program (Los Angeles Times)
• Tentative Ruling: Some Civil Service Furloughs Illegal (Unit 9 News)