by Marvin J. Ramirez
Marvin J. Ramirez
The first day I heard that California Governor suggested to reduce the salary to 200,000 workers in order to balance the state’s budget, I actually didn’t pay much attention. Perhaps it was because I had no idea what he really meant, since I have never heard any such thing in my whole life.
Wait a minute, later on when I paid a little more attention I heard the Governor was actually going to reduce the workers salaries to the minimum wage! Wow, that was serious. But I still couldn’t coupe with such a ‘brilliant idea’ of the Governor. He chose to take the money from the less fortunate.
A local merchant in the Mission District who, for purposes of getting medical and other state benefits, works as a janitor at a local state university, wasn’t feeling well about the news.
Can you believe, I am going to be making $6 something an hour when Schwarzenegger ordered to reduce our salaries to the minimum wage,” said José Campos Jr. , to El Reportero.
The governor, a Republican, apologized to state employees, many of whom, he acknowledged, are already struggling in a difficult economy. But he said he had no choice in the absence of a budget one month into the fiscal year.
Right! He had no choice. Would you believe that? Do you really believe it?
Why it has to be always the poor who have to pay for the mismanagement of the people’s money by our wealthy Congresspeople.
Nearly 200,000 employees could have their pay cut to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour, with full salary reimbursed once a budget is signed. More than 10,000 lost their jobs Thursday.
Exceptions were made for those deemed too critical to let go for purposes of law enforcement, public health and safety or other crucial services.
The workers, members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, left their national convention and marched through downtown San Francisco to protest the wage-cutting order. Bill Lucy, AFSCME Secretary Treasurer and founder of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, condemns Schwarzenegger’s action.
The Governor said it was the only way out!
How about cutting the salaries of those high paid esquires with those huge salaries? Why not cutting the salaries of those highly paid department heads with wages of over $100k?
As a good-hearted gesture and for respect of the state workers, State Controller John Chiang, a Democrat who was elected to his post, suggested that the governor had overstepped his authority and said he would not cooperate.
“The state of California, the elected leadership, cannot put the important public servants of California in harm’s way,” he said. “We put people fi rst, we make sure we protect their interests, and that’s why I have to tell the governor, with all due respect, I am not going to comply with this order.”
Whatever it happens at the end, it might be too late for 10,300 part-time, seasonal and occasional employees who Schwarzenegger’s aides said received pink slips Thursday, without any guarantee of being rehired later.
Rumors say that what is happening to California’s economy now, is just the beginning of a worldwide crisis, because as the dollar is losing it value internationally, the people will have less and less purchasing power to buy the essentials for survival. And that there is more to come, especially for those who have their savings in dollars. Some are suggesting aloud to invest your cash in gold, quickly, and to buy and store food for one year or more as soon as possible. And to pray.
