CALIFORNIA BRIEFING
Nine California Department of Motor Vehicles offices were forced to close for part of Columbus Day when hundreds of state workers stayed home to protest the loss of the paid holiday.
In February, the Legislature eliminated two of state employees’ 14 annual paid holidays to save the state $26 million. Employees also lost Lincoln’s birthday when it was combined into a single Presidents Day.
The Department of Personnel Administration said about 560 of the DMV’s 4,300 employees -- 13% -- had unauthorized absences Monday.
DMV spokesman Mike Marando said five of the nine offices opened by late morning after employees were shifted from other locations. Leaders of the largest state employees union had urged members to skip work in protest.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
