State furloughs prompt strike threat from union

Furloughed and fired up, California's largest state employee union is asking its 95,000 members to authorize a potential strike.

[Melo]

Good!!!! They should do it more than once. It's ridiculous how the state employee gets blamed for California's money problems. I think they have more than done their part with giving up 3 furlough days.......

[Me Myelf and I]

How many people would lineup right now to take these jobs even at a 20% paycut??? Line wouldstretch a mile I'm sure...
Union parasites should strike the state is gonna implode anyway. Get it over with so wecan start fresh. And it's not all the Unions' fault the illegals must take their share of blame...

[Vince Perez]

Yes, go ahead and drive the state into bankruptcy...then maybe we can get something done around here. What you folks don't seem to realize is that this bloated leftist government in California has driven the very tax base required to fund your fairy tale jobs and retirements right out of the state. What's left that's not silicon valley, and military-industrial, and construction/development(oops- no more of that), is government itself, and retail, and underground cash economy = no tax base.....so....why don't we legalize pot and statewide gambling?! Yeah, that's it- short-term quick money leading to long-term reduced productivity, lawlessness, fiscal irresponsibility, and more underground cash economy and self-serving special interests! Yeah that state lottery and Indian gaming really gave us a shot in the arm when we needed it! lol Turn off the TV, forget about the movies, let MJ rest in peace! And get to work Californians! Rich and poor alike- get to work! oh wait, there are no jobs....sorry.

[Proud Mexican]

Long time city worker says VIVA LA HUELGA! I am so sick of the ax falling on the worker when things go wrong.The smartest people that can be found are in our capital WHY DO WE HAVE TO TAKE IN THE SHORTS?

[DaVinner]

Great. If 55,000 workers strike (without pay) for three weeks, the budget will be balanced. I say vote YES on the strike authorization, SEIU members.

[f obama]

Oh i feel their pain so many benefits are going to be lost,medical,dental,sick leave,paid holidays,office parties,ok here it comes,a bunch of worthless parasites that can be replaced with non union workers willing to work with a job appreciated.

[Comment]

Well Ronald Reagan decertified the Air Traffic Controllers Union, maybe we can get the SEIU decertified as well and end the union purchase of elected officials like Assembly Speaker, Karen Bass.

[cha]

Who cares go ahead and strike, get rid of the union people they make way too much money for the little work they do. Put people in there that will actually work.

[Ricardo]

Please strike. Better yet, just go away. Despicable whining parasites. By the way, what does a government-employee strike look like? 10 or 15 people standing around watching one person wave a sign?

[resident]

Ricardo wrote:

Please strike. Better yet, just go away. Despicable whining parasites. By the way, what does a government-employee strike look like? 10 or 15 people standing around watching one person wave a sign?

That sounds like thew city workers standing around watching one guy work.

[United We Stand]

f obama wrote:

Oh i feel their pain so many benefits are going to be lost,medical,dental,sick leave,paid holidays,office parties,ok here it comes,a bunch of worthless parasites that can be replaced with non union workers willing to work with a job appreciated.

As a hardworking state employee dedicated to serving the residents of this state, I take exception to being called a worthless parasite. Being union or non-union has nothing to do with work ethics. There are many dedicated hard working union workers doing a great job serving the citizens of California. Granted, there are always some bad apples as there are in non union private industry as well, but to group everybody together as worthless parasites,is very ignorant, unfair and unjust.

[spoon]

Wouldn't you all like to pay 20% more taxes? That's what state employees are doing.

[Comment]

United We Stand wrote:

<quoted text>
As a hardworking state employee dedicated to serving the residents of this state, I take exception to being called a worthless parasite. Being union or non-union has nothing to do with work ethics. There are many dedicated hard working union workers doing a great job serving the citizens of California. Granted, there are always some bad apples as there are in non union private industry as well, but to group everybody together as worthless parasites,is very ignorant, unfair and unjust.

I seem to recall United Auto Workers going on strike a couple years ago over similar issues. That worked out well too, bankrupt companies, unpaid suppliers, the loss of thousands of jobs and now a number of products that no one will touch because they are Government owned. Good luck with the strike if you vote for one, the next wave will be thousands of Union Members begging for checks they can cash instead of an I.O.U. from the broke State Treasury.

[Melo]

kev wrote:

<quoted text> please go on strike, we won't miss you. The pay you lose while out on strike will help out the budget crisis too. That's probably Arnold's plan. How about instead of whining about furlough days or paycuts, you be grateful you still have a job, and a job that pays more than it should, along with a killer benefit and retirement package too. My company has laid off over 500 people since February, so sack up you wimpy, oerfed state employees, and get rid of the attitude of entitlement.

Simply ignorant comments!

[f obama]

United We Stand wrote:

<quoted text>
As a hardworking state employee dedicated to serving the residents of this state, I take exception to being called a worthless parasite. Being union or non-union has nothing to do with work ethics. There are many dedicated hard working union workers doing a great job serving the citizens of California. Granted, there are always some bad apples as there are in non union private industry as well, but to group everybody together as worthless parasites,is very ignorant, unfair and unjust.

Just read the comments i'am not alone you folks suck the life out of hardworking people with you pensions and retirement on the tax payers expense
ignorant scum.

[f obama]

spoon wrote:

Wouldn't you all like to pay 20% more taxes? That's what state employees are doing.

Good as o.b said share the wealth.

[f obama]

Melo wrote:

<quoted text>
Simply ignorant comments!

hope you will be one who will be on the unemployment line instead of sucking milk from the the ones that feed your lazy $ss,check out other comments who feel the same way.

[United We Stand]

f obama wrote:

<quoted text>
Just read the comments i'am not alone you folks suck the life out of hardworking people with you pensions and retirement on the tax payers expense
ignorant scum.

For your information, the real ignorant scums who suck the life out of hardworking people are the ones on welfare who don't work and wait for a government handout and free healthcare- At least I work hard for my money and I pay tax on that income too so it goes back in the system. Also I did not create the pension system, so don't blame the hard working employees for it. Just because other ignorant people feel the same way as you do doesn't mean they are right. Ignorance breeds
Ignorance!!!

[gilman]

United We Stand wrote:

<quoted text>
For your information, the real ignorant scums who suck the life out of hardworking people are the ones on welfare who don't work and wait for a government handout and free healthcare- At least I work hard for my money and I pay tax on that income too so it goes back in the system. Also I did not create the pension system, so don't blame the hard working employees for it. Just because other ignorant people feel the same way as you do doesn't mean they are right. Ignorance breeds
Ignorance!!!

Your right....there are plenty of hard working State workers who do a good job for all of us and the State. However, these good workers have allowed their unions, and union leaders, to obtain outrageous compensations packages paid for by US!

[Anonymous]

State employees, be careful....you can be replaced. The unemployment rate in this state is over 10%. There are plenty of qualified workers willing to replace you. Ten years ago, this state functioned just fine with half the number of state employees. Ten years ago, California had a larger population. We don't need all of you.