A group of blue-collar state workers who operate state machinery and water plants still has not received special raises Gov. Gavin Newsom authorized in October.

The union representing the 900 workers filed a grievance with CalHR last week over the delay in getting a batch of raises for groups of specific workers.

The special salary increases of 5 percent or more will go to workers who live in remote or high-cost areas, those who have held their jobs for at least seven years and those with special certifications, among others.

“Our members are extremely frustrated and agitated by this unacceptable delay,” International Union of Operating Engineers Director of Public Employees Steve Crouch said in the grievance.

The special raises were included in a three-year contract the union negotiated with Newsom’s administration last year. The contract also included a general salary increase of 2.75 percent for the year, which the workers just received last month, Crouch said.

Crouch said this year’s delays are the longest he has seen.

When raises are delayed, the state includes back pay on their checks covering the elapsed time.

The raises require CalHR to prepare specific technical instructions that the State Controller’s Office has to program into its 1970s-era payroll system.

“That technical work can take weeks or months to accomplish,” CalHR spokesman Andrew LaMar said in an email. “These processes are not automated, and due to the severe consequences of an error, an extensive internal and peer review process occurs to ensure accuracy.”

Newsom’s administration negotiated new contracts covering nearly two-thirds of California state workers last year, and CalHR is working to process all the pay increases while it manages broad increases to comply with the state’s new minimum wage requirements that kicked in Jan. 1.

“We are working to process Bargaining Unit 13’s pay adjustments as soon as possible. It’s important to remember that employees will get the full salary they are entitled to under the new contracts, no matter when the adjustments are processed and implemented,” LaMar said.

This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 7:00 AM.