Federal Minimum Wage for California School Teachers?
July 24, 2008 – 1:37 pm by Nick
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has brought out the big guns to push through California’s overdue state budget. He is threatening to a sign an executive order that would pay thousands of state employees, health care workers, teachers and other service workers, the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour ($1.45 less than California’s minimum wage). Emergency and other critical workers would be exempt.
This is quite a burden for California School teachers and other public servants to loan the state funds. California’s $15.2 billion budget deficit has torn state legislature down party lines. Democrats and Republicans have not been able to reach an agreement on the budget for this fiscal year, which started July 1. Democrats are aiming to raise taxes by $8.2 billion, whereas Republicans want to resort to cuts.
State Controller John Chiang has warned the governor of future litigation fees. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is considering legal action. The SEIU represents 95,000 clerical, office and civilian workers.
The executive order will terminate 20,000 temporary workers, ban any new contracts and suspend overtime. The 200,000 employees will receive full salary after the budget is passed.
Schwarzenegger will not sign a budget without serious budget reform.
