After months and months of publicly insisting furloughs would save the state millions, Schwarzenegger admits that thinking was....wrong.

Gov. Schwarzenegger's private lawyers admitted yesterday in court papers that more than 1,000 workers at five state agencies were furloughed, despite achieving no economic gains for the state - a clear abuse of power. More at www.seiu1000.org.

SEIU members, disability, senior-citizen rights groups filed a lawsuit in San Francisco federal court Friday to stop 130,000 people from either being dropped or cut from California's In-Home Supportive Services program as of Nov. 1.

Nearly one hundred thousand people would be part of the group only having 'some' of their services cut--which sounds almost positive compared to those that will lose all of their in-home care, right? Except when you consider the actual breakdown of these services to be lost: food shopping, meal preparation, cleaning, and assistance and accompaniment to medical appointments. These may be defined by IHSS standards as "basic services," but being able to receive help with daily living tasks like these is the difference for frail seniors and people with disabilities between being able to stay in their homes....or having to go into nursing homes or other residential institutions.

Schwarzenegger needs remedial math class, it seems
According to Gov. Schwarzenegger, these cuts are all about balancing the budget. But how can potentially forcing 130,000 people to resort to institutional care really be cost-reducing when it's actually estimated to be four times more expensive to the state than in-home care? "A 2006 study showed that the average... public expenditure on home...based (Medicaid) services is $44,000 less than for a person receiving institutional services," stated Mitch LaPlante, leading disability researcher at the UCSF, in court papers.

Four SEIU locals whose members are IHSS caregivers and attendants are participating in the lawsuit, including SEIU UHW, SEIU ULTCW, SEIU Local 521 and CUHW, whose members are IHSS caregivers and attendants. The lawsuit alleges that IHSS cuts will violate the federal constitutional due process protections, the Medicaid Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. View filed complaint here. More at the LA Times.

A new study by the California state Senate says that furloughs are "costing the state money and further hurting the economy" and Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg called for immediate passage of the SEIU Local 1000 contract contract bill, AB 88. In a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steinberg wrote the current furlough policy has become a 'penny saved, a dollar lost' approach that can be corrected immediately. "A 5 percent pay cut is a sacrifice for a state employee; a 15 percent cut is punishment."

It's just only about federally-paid workers--the Schwarzenegger administration lost a court battle last week over furloughs for workers at the state's workers' compensation agency, which may include back pay with interest for furlough days the roughly 6,000 workers have already had.

Yesterday, a Superior Court judge issued a tentative ruling that State Compensation Insurance Fund employees are exempt from Governor Schwarzenegger's furloughs. The lawsuit affects over 6,000 clerical and professional SEIU Local 1000 workers who work for the fund, which provides worker's compensation insurance to employers. (Click here to read the tentative ruling)

This ruling comes after Local 1000 filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court accusing the governor of violating the state's Emergency Services Act by illegally using that law as a basis for implementing furloughs. U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein also asked the governor to stop furloughing 1,415 employees who review Social Security disability applications because they are paid through federal money - not from the General Fund.

That same day, the state's Department of Finance admitted at a state Senate hearing that furloughs at the Franchise Tax Board and Board of Equalization will cost the state $350 million in uncollected taxes. At the hearing, FTB tax technician Renee Lee testified that she is now losing her Sacramento home of 18 years because of the 14 percent pay cut from furloughs--after 30 years of civil service. In a comment that widely picked up by media outlets, Lee said at the hearing, "I was living the American dream. I'm living a nightmare now."

If the decision becomes final and is upheld, the workers will be exempt from the Governor's furloughs and will receive back pay with interest for furlough days they have already had. Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker called the ruling "another crack in the governor's illegal furlough scheme." The union has filed a total of five lawsuits challenging the Governor's state employee furloughs three times a month. Read more at SF Gate.

Gov. Schwarzenegger signed the state budget into law last week, but not before chopping another half billion dollars from services for women, children, the sick and the elderly - services that just days before he'd agreed not to cut any further. Legislators, feeling betrayed, may head to court to challenge the legality of the cuts.

According to the Daily Roundup, "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed to relish the task of reining in government spending, almost as if it was another cinematic role in which to star.

"With gusto, he launched blistering attacks against fraud in the welfare system, demanding that those abusing the system be kicked out. He unwaveringly stood his ground on taxes, never allowing Democrats to seriously consider including them in negotiations. And he proclaimed himself the guardian of responsible, frugal government.

"It didn't seem to matter to Schwarzenegger that fraud in the system was minuscule compared with other soaring costs; or that voters actually favored taxes on oil companies, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products; or that he'd previously increased state spending by tens of billions of dollars after coming to office in 2003."

What matters, what doesn't

In making the additional cuts, the governor made his priorities crystal clear. He cut:

• $80 million that pays for workers who help abused and neglected children;
• $50 million from Healthy Families, which has already frozen enrollment and now will actually disenroll more than half a million children who are currently covered. In blunter terms, it takes away health care from half a million kids. Why? Because he can. It's easy to take candy from a baby.
• $50 million from services for developmentally disabled children age 3 and under;
• $16 million from programs protecting women from domestic violence;
• $6.3 million from services for the elderly;
• $6.2 million from parks.

But according to veteran Sacramento reporter Bill Cavala, new revenues that might have saved these and other services never really had a chance:

"The fight for revenue increases was effectively lost when the Governor and the Republicans were successful in depicting the defeat of the various ballot measures -- especially Prop. 1A -- as a referendum against taxes.

[...] The lack of public pressure ... combined with the need to involve Republicans because of the 2/3 requirement and the need for a signature gave the Democrats no real hand to play. Holding a gun to the head of Democrats by threatening the very existence of social service programs, the Governor was able to force changes in law otherwise unthinkable by the Majority Party."

So there you have it: government by extortion. Experts say we'll be back at it by October, trying to reform California's government, tax code, and maybe even the State Constitution. California needs a new way of working.

Detailed budget analysis from the California Budget Project - www.cbp.org

(Thanks to SEIU Local 1021 for this budget update)

With a future body count guaranteed to make it a horror film classic, the new California state budget approved by legislators on Friday puts an end to the endless "debate" that's been causing debilitating migraines even in those who don't suffer them.

But the pain is far from over. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his band of loyal lawmakers proved they're no 'girlie-men' with the budget cuts by taking healthcare from the sick and frail and every kind of care from the elderly; by closing schools so kids have nowhere to learn, and after-school programs so they have nowhere else to go. They closed the deficit by privatizing public services and throwing public servants under the bus, while taking money with impudence from those who remain. And if you thought these outcomes were shocking, here's the most shocking thing of all: CA lawmakers managed all of this without taxing corporations one single additional dime.

And no doubt the heads of those corporations will be spending this glorious, victorious weekend with Governor Arnold in his hot tub, smoking their cigars.

The difference
Rapid action by members of SEIU Local 1021, Local 1000 and all the California locals, together with the communities they serve, prevented the outcome of the budget deal from being much worse. "While we don't like the outcome [of this budget], had we not gotten involved it would have been much worse," said SEIU executive vice president Eliseo Medina.

Working closely in collaboration with communities and allies, scores of public events were held all over the state that put a human face on the cuts to home care, health care, CalWORKS, schools, and other public services. All together, SEIU members made 40,000 calls to the Governor and legislators, took part in 400-plus lobby days and sent 100,000 petitions and postcards. The most dramatic difference these efforts made is that new revenues are finally on the table and, against the odds, even made it into the Conference Committee budget. And more significantly, SEIU members, CA activists and allies helped scale back (and lessen in severity) the Governor's worst cuts:

• Home care: In-home Supportive Services (IHSS) will be cut by 20 percent instead of 90 percent.
  
• CalWORKS will be cut 40 percent instead of eliminated entirely.
  
• Healthy Families: The Governor wanted to eliminate the program entirely - instead, it was cut by 50 percent.
  
• Education: Despite deep cuts to education, Proposition 98 was not suspended and legislative safeguards on school outsourcing were protected.
  
• State workers: Workers' pensions and health care were protected, and a fourth furlough day has not been issued like Governor Schwarzenegger threatened.

As California confronts severe budget difficulties in coming months, the war of words, lobby days and public actions are far from over. Middle-class families will continue to challenge state leaders to provide a common sense, balanced approach--even when it requires that our leaders have the courage to stand up to powerful corporate interests. More news and reports on the CA budget can be found from Rough & Tumble and California Budget Project.

Thanks to SEIU Local 1021 for this budget update.

In spite of the fact that months of debate between CA lawmakers on how to resolve the state's $26 billion budget deficit may be finally coming to an end, there can be no cause for celebration when the 'solution' does not reflect the priorities of a vast majority of California voters. Commenting on the staggering cuts agreed upon by lawmakers late Monday night, SEIU Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker said this:

"There may be a budget deal, but there's no budget solution."

Walker continued, saying "The governor's refusal to close corporate tax loopholes, eliminate waste in private vendor contracts and make big tobacco and big oil pay their fair share, is another series of bad decisions."

"Making state employees pay what amounts to a 15 percent furlough tax is just plain wrong ... We'll fight in the courts, in the Legislature and in the workplace to have it cut back," Walker said.

The California State Council of the SEIU also released a statement from State Council President Kristy Sermersheim, who declared "Big oil, big tobacco, and the alcohol lobby" the only real winners in this budget deal.

"Approximately 80,000 seniors and people with disabilities will be put at risk of leaving their homes for institutions. Nearly half a million children will lose healthcare. The deal will eliminate tens of thousands of jobs, making our terrible economy even worse. Local communities, which have relied on a responsible and balanced approach to their budget challenges, will now be hit with deep cuts to basic public safety and other services. And millions of school children will have an education inferior to what they could have."

Since the court has ruled against Governor Schwarzenegger and his cuts, we've made over 200 phone calls to the Governor's office, telling him to end the war on home care.

One caller, J.L., reported back after her phone call to the Gov.:

I would like the Governor to know that what he is doing is wrong and I plan to stand up for the sick and disabled. I am the caregive for 3 recipients of IHSS and without my assistance, these people wouldn't be able to live comfortably at all. Our wages should be more not less--these are peoples' very lives we are helping. My message to Arnold: Where Is your Heart??

Another caller, J.B. spoke to a woman in Schwarzenegger's office, Megan. Here's how his call went:

Megan said "you can't please everyone. Cuts across the board have been made." She implied that everyone suffers equally. I disagreed with her and stated that cuts in this area cause a disproportional amount of suffering. I suggested cuts for the State University travel budget for Professor that visit foreign countries; cuts here would be far less damaging to the citizens. Megan said the Universities are receiving cuts also.

From caller J.E.:

I cannot believe Gov. Schwarzenegger has the audactiy to cut wages of those who lovingly care for our nation's most vulnerable seniors. The seniors have loved, supported and fought for everything for us to have what we have now over all these years and it is time we did the same for them!!!

We applaud your efforts to tell the Governor his misguided policies will send California deeper into fiscal abyss. But it's not enough--we must keep the pressure on, because now the Governor and CA state officials are refusing to abide by the U.S. District Court's preliminary injunction preventing the slashing of salaries for in-home caregivers.

In light of this outrageous defiance, Judge Wilken has amended her original injunction to make it more specific: rescind approval of all IHSS wage reductions by July 14 that were scheduled to take place on July 1. The attorneys requested that the Court hold the State in contempt and issue fines and order the State to comply immediately, since it seems the Governor and state lawmakers haven't yet grasped the seriousness of illegally cutting the wages of IHSS workers who take care of our most most vulnerable citizens.

Now more than ever, we need to flood the Governor's office with calls to help put an end to the war on home care. Even if you or someone close to you is not affected by the CA Legislature's and Gov. Schwarzenegger's cuts, he needs to know how much support there is for the vital services home care workers provide to seniors and people with disabilities.

Will you take part? Please call the Governor now and tell him to put a permanent stop to these short-sighted cuts.

"Governor, we've sacrificed. And we've now reached our limit. We cannot, and will not, allow you to use us as pawns in your political power game," writes SEIU Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker in a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger concerning the California union's contract deal and latest budget proposal. The deal -- which includes some concessions -- is now stalled by Republicans in the legislature.

The Governor's proposal seeks to pile on an additional 5 percent pay reduction or fourth furloughed work day for more than 230,000 state workers. The three furlough days per month state workers are already faced with amounts to a roughly 14 percent loss in pay for state workers. Add on 5 percent, and CA's state workers would lose nearly 20 percent of their income.

The letter Local 1000 President Walker delivered to the Governor on Friday afternoon informs Schwarzenegger that the state workers will not take the Governor's threats lying down. "When we negotiated one furlough day monthly, a wage freeze, and other cost saving changes, we were standing up for state services. While we will continue to battle for quality public services, we are now standing up for ourselves as well. We will fight for a common sense budget." (Read President Walker's letter to the governor here).

Last week, Local 1000's Council voted unanimously authorizing the union's officers to seek member support for concerted actions up to and including a strike to protect our members' pay, benefits and job security.

A U.S. District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction last month ordering the state of California to halt pay cuts of nearly 20 percent -- from $12.10 an hour down to $9.50 -- for the state's 400,000 home care workers. The injunction, issued by federal judge Claudia Wilken, has the effect of stopping pay cuts in all California counties that were planning on passing the state cut through to their home care workers, beginning on July 1, 2009.

Sounds like a pretty cut-and-dry ruling...until you remember that you're dealing with Governor Schwarzenegger, who apparently stands above the law [unless he's the one making it]. The Governor and CA state officials are refusing to abide by Judge Wilken's preliminary injunction preventing the slashing of salaries for in-home caregivers. SEIU is fighting back by filing a motion in U.S. District Court, asking the court to hold the State in contempt for illegally cutting the wages of IHSS workers in defiance of the earlier court order.

Since Judge Wilken's ruling, numerous counties have submitted requests to reinstate IHSS worker pay--but State officials are claiming that they need 60 days to process the requests. "Instead of honoring the court's decision and keeping our pay as it is, the State is dragging its feet, making up excuses, and placing this lifeline service in jeopardy," said Mary Harms, a Contra Costa County home care worker.

The Governor vowed again last week, in a brief question and answer period from reporters, that he would not sign any budget deal that included any tax increases, saying "I made this very real clear that I will never sign a budget with tax increases or extra fees or other kind of trickery that is proposed. I will not a budget that is a partial budget - we want to address the entire $26 billion - we want to do it making the necessary cuts and also getting rid of the waste and abuse that is going on within those programs." Most people--myself included--would not qualify providing social services for people who need it, like the elderly or persons with disabilities--as a "waste" of the state's budget.

Speaker of the House Karen Bass said last week of Schwarzenegger: "I do believe he is completely overstating it and making IHSS as though it is some huge part of the budget, when it is actually 1.5 % of the state budget...the IHSS program saves money in the long run because it prevents people from being in nursing homes. What shouldn't we be wasting any of, in Speaker Bass's opinion? Time. "I just believe that we really don't have any time to waste - and what is most important that we close the deficit. The issue of reforms are critical - but we can begin the reform process the day after the budget revision is signed." Please call the Governor now and tell him: "Home care not only saves money, it saves lives. We need a common sense budget that protects home care."

A U.S. District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction last week ordering the state of California to halt pay cuts of nearly 20 percent -- from $12.10 an hour down to $9.50 -- for the state's 400,000 home care workers. This ruling is big news for home care workers and those they care for, as it will temporarily stop the cuts that were to go into effect July 1st in those counties at risk.

There's a war being waged against home care, and Governor Schwarzenegger is leading the call. We can celebrate this initial victory, but this injunction will not stop the Governor from trying to cut home care again. CA State Department of Finance spokesman H.D. Palmer has made this much clear, saying that the Schwarzenegger administration "can't imagine a legal interpretation that would prevent the state from moving forward to implement [the proposed cuts to home care]."

It's up to us to keep the pressure on. Now that a court has ruled against the Governor and his cuts, we need to ask him to reverse course on these short-sighted cuts.
Please call the Governor now and tell him: "Home care not only saves money, it saves lives. We need a common sense budget that protects home care:"

For more than 18 months, SEIU Local 1000 has been suggesting alternatives to Schwarzenegger's draconian cuts--promoting budget-balancing proposals worth billions of dollars, including the elimination of costly private vendor contracts. Instead, Gov. Schwarzenegger has fought to reduce the budget deficit by laying off 5,000 state workers from agencies supported by the General Fund, along with a 5 percent across-the-board pay cut for state workers. "Why in a time of crisis, [...] wouldn't the governor and the Legislature cut wasteful spending first, especially when state workers can do the work for one-third or even one half less?" questioned Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker.

Finally...Schwarzenegger Agrees with SEIU: Use of Government Vendors needs Revamping
Yesterday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order calling for all unfulfilled state department vendor contracts to be canceled through the end of the fiscal year, retroactive to March 1, and to cut outside contracts by 15 percent. Schwarzenegger's recognition of the vendor waste is just the tip of the iceberg. SEIU Local 1000 believes the California government is hiding $34.7 billion in some 13,600 vendor contracts.

Read the study prepared by SEIU Local 1000, which represents 95,000 state government workers, showing California's "hidden branch of government."

Governor Schwarzenegger says he thinks every day about the people who will be affected by his proposed cuts to health care will affect. "I know the consequences of those cuts are not just dollars," said the Governor to lawmakers yesterday. "I see the faces behind those dollars."

Fresno area home care provider Carlos Martinez and his wife Mikesha Martinez show the real face of those who would be impacted the most by these cuts.

Hundreds of home care workers from across the country continue knocking on doors this week, talking to Fresno home care workers about the importance of standing with their union in combating these dangerous cuts--which would cause nearly 400,000 elderly or disabled Californians to lose the services they need to live at home and still remain cared for.

Today, SEIU home healthcare members closed their 48-hour vigil with a press conference on the steps of the California statehouse to protest drastic budget cuts which would drive home care workers into poverty and force seniors and people with disabilities into more restrictive and costly institutional settings, as reported in the Los Angeles Times and La Opinion. "They're talking about limiting the services to the most frail, elderly, handicapped individuals in our state and in our county," SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina told CBS 47.

Read about the ad campaign against the budget cuts to stop the cuts to home care workers' wages and the number of hours of in-home care. And then do something about it: send a message to the Governor telling him you strongly disagree with his misguided priorities.

Photo slideshow from yesterday's candlelight vigil and rally here:

Two years ago, President Barack Obama walked a day in the shoes of SEIU home care worker Pauline Beck.

Today, Pauline and home care workers across California face pay cuts of up to 33% -- from $12.10 an hour down to $8.

Governor Schwarzenegger's belief that solving the state's fiscal problems on the backs of those who take care of the most fragile among us is an absolute disgrace.

Please send a message to the Governor telling him you strongly disagree with his misguided priorities: http://action.seiu.org/page/s/homecare

We're not going to let this happen without a fight.

Starting today, we're running TV ads in California featuring President Obama's day in the shoes of SEIU home care worker Pauline Beck. We also have a new print ad running in today's LA Times, featuring a letter from Pauline to President Obama asking for his help:

[...] I understand that these are challenging times, but these cuts hurt California. They put vulnerable residents at risk of losing their independence and force hard working people like me into poverty.

I know you are a good man and I am proud of the job you are doing. I hope you and the Governor can work together to help Mr. John, me and the 750,000 of Californians just like us. It would make such a difference in our lives.

Watch the ad and send a message to Governor Schwarzenegger.

We need to rally the state to stop these cuts: http://action.seiu.org/page/s/homecare

Make no mistake about it, SEIU will aggressively organize against this unjust and poorly thought-out policy decision.

More than 5,000 home care providers, care recipients, disability and senior advocates joined SEIU members and other concerned Californians on Friday, May 22nd in a rally in front of the California State building in downtown Los Angeles to speak out against the Governor's proposed cuts to the state's home care program, as laid out in his revised May budget.

Closing down streets, rally participants sent a clear message to Governor Schwarzenegger and Sacramento legislators that proposed cuts to the state's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, which delivers care to more than 400,000 seniors and people with disabilities, will not be tolerated.

Check out some of the amazing photos from this rally:

Friday's rally is the first of many events to take place over the next several weeks to raise awareness of these dangerous cuts to California's home care program and their impact on the state's vulnerable residents and those who care for them. Learn more about the cuts laid out in Gov. Schwarzenegger's revised May budget and find out about upcoming actions.

SEIU members, seniors home care givers and community supporters from across the state will hold vigils tonight on the grounds of the State Capitol to protest Schwarzenegger's proposed cutbacks that would reduce vital services to seniors and people with disabilities. The vigil will include candlelight prayer circles Tuesday night, a rally and testimony by home care recipients and workers Wednesday afternoon, and a mass Wednesday night.

The cutbacks to services and jobs would reduce services to seniors and people with disabilities by as much as 27 percent, potentially forcing thousands from California's most vulnerable populations into costly nursing homes. It would slash wages for home care workers by up to 33% -- from $12.10 an hour down to $8, which is below the poverty level for a family of two. Find information about the vigil and additional events here.

SEIU also has a ad buy today on California's home care cuts which will air on select cable stations in LA, Fresno and Sacramento this week to coincide with the President's visit to the state. Print ads will run in targeted markets during the same period. Watch the ad here:

Gov. Schwarzenegger's belief that solving the state's fiscal problems on the backs of those who take care of the most fragile among us is an absolute disgrace. If you're not in California but still want to join the fight to stop cuts to home care, please write a message for Governor Schwarzenegger telling him you strongly disagree with his misguided priorities--we'll make sure that he receives it.

Caring for others. It's probably the most important thing your mother ever taught you. But it's a lesson Gov. Schwarzenegger seems to have forgotten, because on May 14th the governor released a preview of his revised budget, which seeks to implement deeper cuts to the in-home care program by slicing the state's contribution toward home care worker wages by a staggering 20 to 30 percent.

If implemented, these budget cuts would drastically affect the state's hundred of thousands In-Home Supportive Service (IHSS) workers and the 440,000 seniors and people with disabilities who rely on IHSS for daily care. The cuts would:

• Lower the State's maximum participation in IHSS wages from $11.50/hr to just $8.00 (minimum wage).
• Eliminate certain hours of care that will place home care recipients at risk.
• Limit IHSS Share-Of-Cost buyout to only the most impaired seniors and people with disabilities.

Home care workers are often the primary--and frequently sole--caregivers for their clients, sometimes being the only thing keeping a family member at home instead of in an institution. These cuts are a true assault on our seniors, people with disabilities and those who care for them. SEIU's Andy Stern on the cuts: "The Schwarzenegger administration suggests solving the state's fiscal problems should entail cutting the wages of people who do some of the most difficult work and help our most vulnerable citizens stay out of institutions. That is a disgrace and a sign of misguided priorities."

Join SEIU Executive VP Eliseo Medina and thousands of Californians at a rally tomorrow, May 22 at noon (PST) in Los Angeles to send a loud and clear message to Sacramento to stop the cuts to home care. (More rally info here).

Take action now to stop cuts to home care in California: Gov. Schwarzenegger's belief that solving the state's fiscal problems on the backs of those who take care of the most fragile among us is an absolute disgrace--please write him a message telling him you strongly disagree with his misguided priorities.

Last month, we brought you news of the tentative contract agreement SEIU Local 1000 secured covering and protecting the jobs of 95,000 California state workers, right as Gov. Schwarzenegger announced the elimination of up to 20,000 state jobs to bridge the state's $42 billion budget gap.

After nine months of intense bargaining, the tentative contract was put to a vote by all of Local 1000's members this weekend. In a decision that reflects California's tough economic conditions, members voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract that provides the strongest layoff protections state workers have ever had.

The contract includes a mix of gains and concessions, including a once-a-month floating furloughs day and a temporary 4.6 percent pay cut. This is just half the 9.2 percent cut from the twice-monthly furloughs imposed on 10 other state unions that don't have contracts.

"This agreement gives our members layoff protections at a time when California's unemployment rate is above 10 percent and the state's budget deficit continues to mount," said Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker. "There was just no room to even think about a pay increase," commented Margarita Maldonado, a 20-year state employee who was part of the union's bargaining team. "The best we could do is give our members some stability."

Since late February, there have been 555 union meetings where members discussed the agreement and voted, casting their ballots in person or by mail. The agreement, which must be approved by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger in order to take full affect, was supported by 91 percent of voters. It covers 95,000 state workers, which is nearly half the state government workforce.

More details on the provisions of this contract listed after the fold, courtesy of www.seiu1000.org...