Union members decry pay cuts and loss of flexible schedules
About 11,500 county employees will have their work hours cut starting June 20, and flexible schedules will no longer be an option unless the union representing them and the county can agree on another option.
The union representing the employees, the San Bernardino Public Employees Association (SBPEA), has declined to forgo a 3.25-percent cost of living pay raise, forcing the county to cut hours to achieve $18.2 million in salary savings to balance its 2009-2010 budget, county spokesman David Wert said.
Unless the union can negotiate with the county on an amicable solution, the county will implement the changes, which call for a reduction of four hours per pay period.
"There's only seven weeks left in the fiscal year. The county has to take action," said Wert. "The county's hands are tied. The county didn't want to do this."
SBPEA General Manager Bob Blough said that in 1998 and 2001, the county agreed to remove language in its contract with the union authorizing furloughs, and believes the county is in violation of that agreement.
"In light of the county's agreement to delete furlough language from the MOU (memorandum of understanding), we believe the county will not be able to implement furloughs by a creative, albeit disingenous, use of the terminology 'reduced work schedules,' without a mutually agreed upon side letter agreement . . ." Blough said.
Wert said the furlough program used by the county in the 1990s is not the same program that is being proposed now.
Under the furlough program, employees accrued benefits and leave, vacation and sick time as if they were working 40 hours a week even though they were working fewer hours, said Wert. In addition, employees got to choose the hours that they took off.
"That is not the case with the reduced work schedule, in which employees will receive credit only for the hours worked, in this case, 38 per week, and the county chooses the hours they will take off by modifying schedules," Wert said.
Some employees who hold second jobs to make ends meet depend on the flexible scheduling currently provided by the county and stand to be significantly impacted if they are forced to take an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift.
"Such a change will not save the county any money, but it will create a terrible burden on the working families," Blough said.
Blough said discussions continue with the "few true leaders on the county side that agree with the SBPEA Board of Directors," and that the union has planned a march outside the San Bernardino County Government Center on Tuesday.
So you are telling us that all these gov workers have not had to make cuts like the rest of us?
We have made cuts. We agreed to losing the flex plan dollars in our last contract. We would've agreed to postpone the pay raise for a year but the association canceled the vote (even though the ballots were already mailed and some returned). Either way we will be making more cuts. Either in not getting a raise or getting the raise and having our hours cut. I'm fine with either option and I understand. The problem I have is having my hours cut and not having the flex schedule.
There is no reason why the reduction in work hours could not be implemented on the flex schedules. Because it's not I am not going to be able to finish a college class and I'm not going to be able to take any additional college classes that are offered at county buildings becuse I will not be able to make up my time needed to attend these classes.
Things have just gotten worse...lay-off notifications were issued today. Bit thanks to our union leadership...instead of being greedy, you all should have accepted the first voting results.