5.5% Raise for State Workers Gets Tentative OK

A union representing almost half of all state workers reached a tentative, short-term accord Tuesday that grants the civil servants a 5.5% raise starting April 1--their first increase since 1995.

Jim Hard, director of the Civil Service division of the California State Employees Assn., said union leaders will recommend that the 80,000 affected workers approve the pact, which would expire June 30.

“It’s definitely the best deal we could get, under difficult circumstances,” Hard said.

Gov. Gray Davis, working to reach contracts with unions that backed his candidacy in the gubernatorial campaign last year, hailed the agreement, saying that a deal “has been a high priority.”

Hard said the agreement covers six of the nine bargaining units in the state employees association. He predicted that the remaining units will sign on to the deal.

Administration officials did not place a dollar value on the contract, although it will probably exceed $50 million.

Talks will resume in April or May on a new pay package for the 1999-2000 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Davis has indicated that he would be willing to grant further raises for state employees if the economy remains strong and more tax revenue becomes available.

As part of the tentative agreement, the state will pay extra costs of health care passed on to state workers this year. Additionally, Hard said, the contract calls for no reduction in worker protections.

The California State Employees Assn. represents a variety of civil servants, including clerks at the Department of Motor Vehicles and analysts and others at the Employment Development Department.

In last year’s campaign, unions representing almost all state workers backed Davis, giving him millions of dollars in donations as well as other valuable help.

The relationship soured when Davis offered a raise of only 2% in his budget. A faction of California State Employees Assn. led by Hard threatened to strike--a step later rescinded by the union’s full board.

Hard said he believes such tactics helped convince the administration to reach a deal.

“We do think Gov. Davis and his representatives made a real effort, and we appreciate it,” Hard said. “We have hopes that this will be the beginning of a new and much more positive relationship with the Davis administration.”