Newsom Budget Did Not Count SEIU AgreementPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Jun. 04‚ 2009With San Francisco reeling from Mayor Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget cuts, hope is on the way in undoing part of the damage. Members of SEIU Local 1021, the largest union of City employees, have overwhelmingly approved a new contract – and will formally announce this today at a press conference. This will save the City $24.6 million for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, after the union’s members rejected an earlier deal in May. Beyond Chron has also learned that the Mayor’s budget did not include savings from a new SEIU deal, which means the Board of Supervisors can start restoring some of the worst cuts. The deal means no layoffs for SEIU City employees until November 15th, giving voters time to pass revenue measures on the ballot – and the question now is if non-profits facing cuts will get the same protection. It also leaves the Firefighters as the one major union yet to modify its contract, which could save the City another $6.6 million. But the Board has a long way to go before fixing this budget, which has over $100 million in proposed cuts to the Health Department. It’s time to revisit budget cuts to the Ballet, Symphony, Opera, Fire Department, 311 Center and the Mayor’s Office – all of which were proposed by the Supervisors last December. |