Wilson’s Attempt to Cut Employees’ Pay Ruled Illegal

A Superior Court judge Wednesday ruled that Gov. Pete Wilson’s attempt to impose a 5% pay cut on state employees was illegal.

The ruling by Judge James Ford halted a salary and benefit cut the Administration had ordered for 4,700 Highway Patrol officers and state scientists.

However, Administration and labor officials said the decision also applied to Wilson’s plan to reduce pay and benefits for other state workers over the objections of their unions.

Wilson said he was “greatly disappointed” and will appeal the ruling. He said he also would ask the Legislature to give him the authority to impose the cuts.

Bob Striegel, a spokesman for the 78,000-member California State Employees Assn., said, “We’re jubilant, very happy.”

“The law clearly states that employees do have rights,” said Chris Voight, chief negotiator for the California Assn. of Professional Scientists.

“Maybe now the governor will approach collective bargaining with determination to negotiate, rather than coercing us into accepting his proposals,” Voight said.

The Republican governor, faced with budget shortages, had sought the pay and benefit cuts as a means of avoiding widespread layoffs among the roughly 185,000 state employees.

Ford said the governor couldn’t impose the cuts without authorization from the Legislature.

“The court is satisfied that the government code precludes the governor’s implementationof wage reductions,” Ford said. “I don’t think that the Legislature’s authority in this matter is untoward or improper, even if it leads to political complexity. But that’s part of the job of the Legislature.”

Wilson has sought about $350 million in cuts from the state payroll as part of his plan to erase the $14.3-billion budget deficit he faced going into the current fiscal year. Since then, the shortfall has swelled by another $2 billion and threatens to rise by $4 billion more next year, according to state fiscal experts.

State labor unions contend that layoffs aren’t necessary, citing a recent report by the state controller’s office that found more than 22,000 vacancies in the state Civil Service.

Instead, the unions have been seeking voluntary work reductions, where employees could choose to work shorter weeks, share jobs or take unpaid leaves. They also want “golden handshake” incentives for workers who retire early.