A new Field Poll reports that nearly half of California's registered voters are OK with unions but but an increasing percentage think public pensions are too generous -- 42 percent, up from 32 percent in 2009. Ten percent said public pensions are not generous enough. A Little Hoover Commission report in February recommended public pension reform, including lowering future benefits for current government employees and establishing a salary cap for pension calculations. State Treasurer Bill Lockyer and CalSTRS both slammed the report.

ACSS urges its members to attend the next board meeting, April 15-17 in San Diego. This meeting will be one of the most intense and productive we have held. Instead of brief Friday committee meetings and a two-day board session, this weekend will consist of in-depth committee workshops designed to further our strategic planning and corporate restructuring. We will identify issues most important to our members and find more avenues to advocate for them. We will discuss legislative and political planning, strategies for membership development and ways to better organize and structure chapter activities. Click for a schedule of workshops or to make hotel reservations. The deadline for the ACSS discounted  room rate is March 23.


Lobby Day, ACSS' most effective annual event for getting excluded employees' message to our legislators, is Wednesday, March 16, with training starting the evening before. For our members who are attending, we have posted a schedule and other helpful information on our Lobby Day page along with a Lobby Day flier containing the same information in pdf format.

Associated Press reports that leaders of unions that include SEIU and AFL-CIO are planning to launch a multimillion dollar campaign to boost the image of government workers and fend off pay cuts and benefits rollbacks in some states.

State Worker columnist Jon Ortiz asked state workers what they think of Gov. Brown's order to take 48,000 state cell phones out of service. As you might expect, the responses are sharp. Check here for a copy of the governor's executive order (order follows the governor's release).

CalPERS is holding an election to fill a vacant board of administration position. You are eligible to vote if you are an active CalPERS member as of March 1 or retired on or before March 1. Ballot packets will be mailed April 21. The dedline to vote is May 19. List of candidates here.

Gov. Brown has ordered that 48,000 cell phones belonging to state workers -- about half of those in use -- be returned. Only employees with certain needs, such as 24/7 availability, will keep their phones. The governor expects to save $20 million a year by reducing cell phone expenses.

Gov. Brown's budget, presented Monday, would cut social services and keep expiring tax increases for five more years. His cuts also include reducing take-home pay for members of bargaining units that do not yet have contracts. Excluded employees and members of bargaining units with contracts would not be subject to further cuts. The California Budget Project has broken down Brown's budget into a readable format; the organization's executive director gives a brief, mixed assessment of the budget proposals. Other budget links: budget breakdown; how the budget could affect you -- fewer state-issued cell phones, for example; Legislative Analyst's review.

The State Worker interviewed incoming DPA director Ronald Yank for his regular Thursday column. These are some of Yank's thoughts that didn't make the cut.

Gov. Brown has announced he is eliminating the Office of the First Lady and the Office of the Secretary of Education. He also is closing three field offices and will not have a cabinet secretary or deputy cabinet secretaries.

A Sacramento Bee editorial this morning questions Gov. Brown's wisdom in appointing Ronald Yank to head the Department of Personnel Administration and Marty Morgenstern to lead the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Yank is a retired labor lawyer who previously represented labor unions.

Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, is announcing legislation that would cap all public pensions in California at a salary base of $245,000 per year. Hill is promoting the measure after three dozen UC employees, who all earn more than $245,000 a year, threatened to sue over pension payouts.

Gov. Brown has been granted an extra month to review the proposal to sell 11 state properties, delaying a court hearing until at least the second half of February. As Attorney General, he was critical of the plan, and the Legislative Analyst's Office has reported it will be a money-loser in the long term.

ACSS has added an online registration form to our Lobby Day page. You can use the form to sign up for Lobby Day and request a hotel reservation. ACSS will pay for a one-night hotel stay. Lobby Day, our most effective legislative action day, is March 16 this year. With a new governor and new legislators, it's more important than ever that members participate in this event.

The State Worker column this morning profiles Ronald Yank, the man Gov. Brown appointed to direct the Department of Personnel Administration. Yank is a retired labor attorney who says he wants to heal the wounds Gov. Schwarzenegger left with the unions.