The State Worker: Next hearing in State Fund furlough case set for Thursday; SEIU wants in

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The State Worker

Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers

July 8, 2009

Next hearing in State Fund furlough case set for Thursday; SEIU wants in

Editor's Note: This story has been changed from an earlier version to correct the court in which the furlough exemption stay is being heard. Corrected on July 8, 2009, 11:30 a.m.

A San Francisco Superior Court judge is set to hear arguments Thursday about whether State Compensation Insurance Fund employees should remain on furlough while Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appeals a lower court's ruling that cutting their hours and pay is illegal.

As we reported here, the union representing about 500 State Fund legal staff, California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment,won its argument that state insurance law prevents Schwarzenegger from furloughing them.

But Schwarzenegger appealed the ruling, which automatically held up putting those workers back on a regular schedule.

SEIU Local 1000, with some 5,000 workers employed by the fund, has since filed its own lawsuit. According a newsletter to members, the union's lawyers will be present at the Thursday hearing. "If the court lifts the stay, Local 1000 will then take steps to extend the injunction to all SCIF employees," according to the Local 1000 notice.

Click here to read the SEIU news item.

CASE attorney Patrick Whalen , who successfully argued the furlough case, wouldn't predict what will happen Thursday. Check back here in Thursday afternoon for an update.

IMAGE: www.yolocourt.ca.gov

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