Your reporter also incorrectly classified all state workers as "civil service" or "exempt." In fact, state workers are either "rank-and- file" – those represented by unions – or "excluded," who do not have union representation. There are 35,000 excluded employees in state service, and CEAs make up only about 1,300 of them.
Not only do most of the state's managers and supervisors earn far less than the CEAs but, because they lack collective bargaining, they also often earn less than the rank-and-file employees they supervise.
Our organization, the Association of California State Supervisors, represents excluded employees, including some CEAs. Excluded employees have had only one salary increase since 2000, and that was a measly 3.4 percent. Yet these are the leaders who make sure state government serves the people of California.
ACSS opposed the salary cap being imposed on CEAs. It's unfair to them, and it may make it even more difficult for the rest of the state's management team to get salary increases that are long overdue.
Tim Behrens (signed)
President, Association of California State Supervisors
Comments from Bonnie Morris, ACSS Senior Labor Rep (4/3/08)
1,330 CEA Salary Increases Restricted
In 2006, ACSS requested the Department of Personnel (DPA) to raise or eliminate the salary ceiling of the state’s top paid employees: those that the governor appoints into Career Executive Assignment (CEA) positions. These CEA positions include department directors, chief deputy directors, deputy directors, division chiefs as well as many other top-level positions.
This request was made in conjunction with our demands for higher salaries for our members. Each time we stressed the need for additional increases, we were told by DPA that their hands were tied because they couldn’t raise the salaries beyond those of the top-level governor appointees. When DPA was finally successful in eliminating the ceiling, we were hopeful, based on our discussions with them during our meet and confers, that our members would ultimately benefit from the leeway now available. Sadly, that has not happened.
The Sacramento Bee’s article misused some of the terms many of us are familiar with; thus, confusing readers as to which employees actually receive these high wages. They are the CEA appointees, who are a very small portion (1,330) of the state’s 35,000 plus supervisors, managers and confidential employees who service the State of California.
While there were other inaccuracies in the article, they are not as important as the message that the state’s supervisors, managers and confidentials are dedicated employees who have taken on the responsibilities that require them to go above and beyond what is expected of them. ACSS is doing everything possible to prevent further salary freezes and improve their compensation package — even in this current budget crisis.
CEA Salary Program - PML
The Sacramento Bee
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, April 3, 2008
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A1
Schwarzenegger restricts raises for state supervisors
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has restricted salary increases for 1,330 supervisors throughout state agencies and authorized an audit to find out why some are making more than allowed under the current pay scale.
In a March 24 memo obtained by The Bee, Personnel Administration Department Director David Gilb ordered state directors and agency secretaries to immediately halt salary increases for a certain class of civil servants working in management positions but not covered by unions. Others will be eligible for a smaller raise than previously allowed.
"Any CEA salary currently above the maximum salary of their respective level is frozen; no additional salary increases within the CEA bands may be authorized," Gilb wrote.
These so-called "career executive assignments" cover a range of managerial positions, from doctors and attorneys to communications staff. Until last month's move, those supervisors had been entitled to up to 10 percent annual raises, with salaries ranging from $74,076 to a maximum of $160,572.
But some CEAs are being paid over the current maximum salary for the job. For example, the assistant director for health care services at the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department is earning $205,476. One medical director at the Department of Developmental Services makes $282,792.
"We need to collect more information about CEA salaries to ensure there's consistency," Personnel Administration spokeswoman Lynelle Jolley said Wednesday.
According to the memo, Gilb said his department also will conduct an audit and require Personnel Administration approval for raises that exceed the maximum. The department has granted exceptions in the past for positions requiring specialized training or to comply with court orders.
Corrections spokesman Gordon Hinkle said his department is complying with the audit. "We understand the state is in a fiscal budget crunch," he said.
Jolley said it was unclear how long the freeze would last or how much it would save taxpayers in the current fiscal year. According to the memo, managers who are making below the maximum in their classification range may still be entitled to receive a 5 percent raise.
The Schwarzenegger administration approved the partial freeze as the state continues to face a deficit of at least $8 billion through June 2009.
"We're looking at all options to save taxpayer dollars in tough fiscal times, and this is just an example of us doing that," said gubernatorial spokeswoman Rachel Cameron.
Jolley did not rule out a more comprehensive review in the future.
"We need to look at the relationship between executives and the people they oversee, and we need to do it in a rational, thoughtful way," Jolley said. "We need to freeze this part of the executive compensation program until such time that we can evaluate it rationally."
The state's 235,000 employees fall into two categories: civil service or exempt, some of whom are appointed by the governor. Within that civil service class, most employees are covered under collective bargaining agreements.
The freeze does not apply to all state executives. For example, the University of California's governing board agreed to pay incoming President Mark Yudof an annual package topping $925,000. That position is not classified as a CEA.
Bonnie Morris, a senior labor relations representative with the Association of California State Supervisors, said CEA salary restrictions may hurt other supervisors trying to get raises.
"The way they'll be affected is if their salaries butt up against CEAs," Morris said. "That may prevent them from having their salaries raised higher."
"We don't want freezes imposed on our members," she added.
Morris said her group, which represents 6,400 state managers and supervisors not covered by union contracts, has been fighting to restore a 10 percent pay differential between supervisors and rank-and-file employees. Morris said her members don't receive annual cost-of-living increases, which has enabled some employees to make more than their supervisors.
Currently, 18 of 21 labor contracts covering state public employee unions are set to expire June 30. Two others have expired.
Bruce Blanning of the Professional Engineers in California Government said he wasn't surprised that the administration imposed a salary freeze on managers.
"It is in line with their effort to save money," Blanning said.
By Judy Lin - jlin@sacbee.com