On page B 1 of today’s LA Times the headline reads “Union calls for unpaid time off.”
For those who do not follow the Orange County public workers leadership Nick Berardino is the General Manager of the Orange County Employees Associations, OCEA, 17,000 members.
As many families struggle to pay their bills this year he is making a tough call just before the Christmas, Chanukkah Holidays. The Orange County Board of Supervisors, BOS, just approved $30 million in budget cuts that would result in some unspecified number of employee layoffs. The recommendation of G.M. Berardino is a suggestion that might save jobs by asking workers to take a week off without pay that would save upwards of $20 million dollars. For some he is suggesting a leave of absence of anywhere from a few days to two weeks.
Chris Prevatt, a name recently seen on this blog, is quoted to be in support of this suggestion. The Times quotes him to say “we’re one big County family” he said. “I’m willing to step up, one day, perhaps more.”
Juice readers poll. As I will copy OCEA G.M. Berardino, OC CEO Tom Mauch, and the five members of the BOS, please consider this a poll for your support or opposition to Mr. Berardino’s recommendation.
BERARDINO….SIR….
Not…bernardino….
rw
Anyone have Nick Bernardino’s email address I need to send him some stuff but I’m not a union member.
email: laughingpig1@yahoo.com
I’m sure he can be reached through OCEA, eh?
Thanks Ron. Shame on me as he gave me his card last year.
email response:
Don’t know what the budget or payroll is for the aforementioned 17,000 employee members but assuming it is in the neighborhood of 10 to $15,000,000 a week (17,000 x $17.00/hr x 40hrs/wk = $11,560,000wk total). A one time savings of $20 million is a drop in the bucket. A flat 5 to 10% across the board cut (share the wealth/share the pain) would amount to some significant savings over the long haul.
To the writer of #3 above.
While I know individuals, including one of our sons, who have been asked to accept cuts in pay to keep their jobs, this proposal is from a powerful union leader who is addressing a specific County leadership stated shortfall. I simply do not see his 17,000 members accepting a permanent cut in wages at this time.
Note that one or more days off would work for hourly employees only (which I assume is the majority of the unionized workers, though.)
For salaried employees, labor law does not allow a day off without pay, as I learned during the dot-com crash. Pay cuts are possible for salaried employees, of course.
The Register story on Mr. Beradino’s public statements to present his idea cites CEO Mauck as suggesting that by going to the press first with this idea he is grandstanding. Does seem to walk like a duck, that is for sure.
First, the experience of county employees during the bankruptcy demonstrated that when it hits the fan there is no such thing as “the county family”. It’s a myth – the Board of Supervisors, no matter who is in those chairs, runs for the hills and does virtually nothing to try and protect the workforce. That was most certainly the case in the bankruptcy.
Secondly,a call for all county workers to take a week’s leave, as the Register reports was the suggestion from Mr. Beradino is impractical for tw reasons tht come to mind (1) the retirement pay of county employees is based on their earings during the last year or 3 years of their career, so taking any kind of cut if approaching retirement would seem to be a cut that would be felt for the rest of their lives, and (2) many county operations are 24-7, especially institutions like juvenile hall, Joplin, Oranewood, the jails, etc.
So, the idea seems not well thought out with regard to the entire 17000 county employees and most certainly not presented in a constructive way (If Mr. Mauck is to be believed).
Are the Supervisors ready to cut the pork they hand out, and shift those dollars to core services to get through this? Film Commission, Tourism promotion, various do nothing self-important committees and commissions, expensive proclamations and certificates, etc? Now that would be impressive leadership!
Mr beradino has done more for the middle class and vets in OC than just about anyone I can think of and were lucky to have a reg guy that’s not afraid !!!!!!