Newsom Proposes 10% Pay Cuts for State Workers

Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a 10% pay cut for state workers on Thursday, part of his plan to fill a projected $54.3 billion budget deficit caused by the coronavirus-induced economic downturn.

President Yvonne Walker of SEIU Local 1000, which represents many state employees, said in a Facebook video that Newsom's office had informed her of the proposed cuts on Wednesday.

Tim Edwards, president of the union representing state firefighters, said the proposal would not spare them even as the state enters wildfire season.

If the Newsom administration fails to achieve the necessary savings through negotiation with employee unions, the governor could order furloughs instead.

The pay cuts could be revisited should the federal government approve another aid package for state and local governments. Newsom and the leaders of four other western states have asked Congress for an additional $1 trillion.

Walker said her union will try to negotiate an alternative plan.

“We can call the bargaining team together and we can figure out the equivalent of what that 10% represents and try to negotiate something,” Walker said. “Yeah, there might be a little pain involved but it won’t be the same as two furlough days.”

Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The revised budget will allocate more than $200 million to increase the state’s preparations for looming wildfires and other disasters. That includes hiring an additional 500 firefighters and 100 support personnel to increase the state's readiness to fight fires.

State officials have furloughed state workers during previous budget deficits. But Edwards said furloughs could cost the state more money if idled firefighters have to be backed up with replacements who earn overtime.

“Being one of the lowest-paid fire departments already in California (compared to metro fire departments), pay cuts would not go well for us,” said Edwards, who is president of Cal Fire Local 2881. “We're waiting to see what the governor and CalHR have to say, and we'll work through it.”

— Adam Beam, Associated Press