Dear AFSCME Brothers and Sisters,
On June 30, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S-13-09, mandating a 3rd day of furlough for all state workers through June 30, 2010. This now brings our salary reduction to a whopping 13.85%, a reduction that may well throw many of us into fiscal insolvency. Though this really comes as no surprise we are nonetheless outraged at this Governors calloused and cavalier willingness to make state workers his budget scapegoats...
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"The governor has made us into budget scapegoats," said Nancy Swindell, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO ... "
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"American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2620 President Nancy Swindell said her union's 5000 state health service employees have ... "
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''We are eager to be part of the budget solution, but we’re unwilling to be Schwarzenegger's budget scapegoat,'' said Nancy Swindell, President AFSCME 2620.
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Greetings AFSCME Brothers and Sisters,

The budget battle continues in Sacramento. The California Legislature is under immense pressure to reach an agreement by next week that will address a 24 billion dollar deficit. The Governor's Budget has proposed draconian cuts to vital services that will drastically impact California services for many years to come. California is on the brink of insolvency, and lawmakers are currently without a clear plan to fix the State’s problems.

On your behalf, I have been meeting with members of the California Senate and Assembly Conference Committee and testifying at the public hearings. I am vigilantly reminding each and every lawmaker that services you provide are not optional or ancillary. Today, your work keeps communities safe, and, tomorrow, your services will save taxpayer dollars. I have been addressing the wasteful, unnecessary practice of using private contractors instead of civil service workers, and I have been emphasizing the devastating impact more salary cuts would have on you and your communities.

The Conference Committee has completed the public comment period and is now painstakingly addressing each and every cut the Governor has proposed. As of today, no decisions have been made, and no proposal has been voted on. The entire process must be completed by the end of June.

We have been unable to move forward with bargaining our new contract, as the State appears to be on hold until a budget agreement is reached. Yesterday, at an informal meeting with the Department of Personnel Administration (DPA), we were told they would consider any proposals we bring to them. At this time AFSCME 2620 is working to see if we can gain some protection from future cuts by reaching an agreement in the very near future. We will keep you posted as changes occur.

California officially notified AFSCME 2620 about layoffs, Friday, June 5, 2009. Our official negotiation with the State will begin on July 2, 2009, at which time we will meet with each of the departments that have affected employees. Currently, the only departments affected are CDCR (23), DDS (2), DSS (2) and CDVA (6). The Department of Rehabilitation has exempted all Counselors from layoff and CDCR has exempted all clinical staff.

I will provide you with updates as they become available. In the meantime, you should know that we are still on the frontlines, fighting the good fight on your behalf.

In Unity,
Nancy Swindell, President
AFSCME 2620

The news out of Sacramento keeps getting worse. Governor Schwarzenegger now proposes cutting our salaries by an additional 5% indefinitely. If the legislature doesn't agree, Schwarzenegger's office says the Governor may sign an Executive Order calling for a third day of furlough through June of 2011. AFSCME 2620 leadership is aggressively fighting this proposal, but we need your help.
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Click Here for a Sample Letter to send to your Legislator!

In California's latest doom-and-gloom announcement, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Department of Finance on Tuesday proposed closing the state's main welfare program, releasing nonviolent prisoners one year early and shuttering up to 80 percent of state parks to shrink the state's $24.3 billion budget deficit.
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Click here for President Nancy Swindell's Analysis of the Worsening Budget Crisis

LAO Recommends 3 Furlough Days and Retirement Changes

Click here to read the May 21, 2009 Budget Analysis

"When you talk about something going off the cliff, you have to look at who is going to fall on the rocks below," she said. "Those are my members. Those are the people I represent."
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