Capitol Alert: AM Alert: California state worker paychecks see 5 percent cut

VIDEO: In today's report, Dan Walters says Gov. Jerry Brown has raised $6 million for his tax initiative.

Today marks the first time state employee paychecks will show the 4.62 percent furlough pay cut that began last month in an effort to balance the budget. This is the first time wages have been reduced for all 214,000 state workers under gubernatorial authority.

Unions that did not reach side-letter furlough agreements with Brown will see their checks drop under an imposed furlough.

For top-step employees, the furlough reduction will be offset by 3 percent to 5 percent - but not until next year. The raises, which had been previously negotiated, kick in July 1, 2013. The amount of the pay increase varies by union contract.

For example, the contract SEIU Local 1000 (which covers nine bargaining units) signed a deal with former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that gave workers at the top-step a 3 percent hike starting next July 1. Top-step lawyers got a 4 percent bump.

Other unions representing CHP officers, firefighters, doctors and psych techs received top-step increases in January of between 2 percent and 5 percent. Their checks will still see the July furlough hit on their Aug. 1 paychecks.

This page has links to easy-to-read summaries of all 21 bargaining unit contracts.

Also in union-related news, the state's largest state-employee union, SEIU Local 1000, is hosting a telephone town hall about Proposition 32, a ballot measure that would ban unions and corporations from contributing directly to candidates, as well as banning use of money obtained through payroll deductions for political purposes.

The union's president, Yvonne Walker, will host the meeting today at 6 p.m. To listen or participate in the phone-in session, dial 800-290-1471.

Editor's note: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that raises for top-step employees took effect July 1, the same day furloughs started back up. The raises are effective July 1, 2013.

Jon Ortiz contributed to this report.