The State Worker

Actually, we have mentioned CAHP's furlough-free status many times. And the Bee has attempted to report on the cost of CHP security for Schwarzenegger. (Click here for a story by Capitol Bureau colleague Kevin Yamamura.)

Click here, here and here for some of our CAHP coverage. As we note, CAHP's pay is a matter of statute, which gives the union a decided leg-up when it come to bargaining. And, as this chart points out, it's the only union with a current contract

CDFF does not have a contract. Its deal expired in June 2008.

This link and this link will give you some of what we've written about Cal FIRE and furloughs.

It seems to us that commenter's implication that the CCPOA story is devalued by a lack of similar stories about other unions is flawed logic.

Let's put it this way: If we find out that a union representing Highway Patrol officers or firefighters or prison nurses or state librarians owes the state $4 million on a debt stretching back five years and now faces a looming lawsuit over it, we'll hop on the story. Promise.

Feb. 11 State employees donate pounds and pounds of food

Well, what do you know about that? After being beat up daily right here in these comment sections, they still donated from their own pockets voluntarily. Next thing you know the sacbee.com state worker haters will be saying that since we can do this, we must have extra money laying around so we need another pay cut. What? They can afford to help others? Then they must have too much. Take it from them before they can voluntarily give it to the needy.

It should be pointed out that this article only addressed the annual food drive. State workers also generously support the March of Dimes, the American Heart Association, California State Employees Charitable Campaign (United Way), and the annual coat drive one of our local news organizations sponsors. Here at DMV we also support Blood Source with a regular blood donation drive ...

Good to know. This blog stands ready to promote and recognize any organized giving that involves state workers as a group. Send us your charitable event news! Please!

Feb. 11 Union lobbyist: 'Illegal' pay cuts would 'do irreparable harm' to labor relations

This blog user was apparently offended by some headline punctuation:

I like how Jon put "quotes" on 'Illegal' and 'do irreparable harm' Let's give him minimum wage right now and give him personal experience. LOL.

The quotation marks quoted actual words used in the union letter. That's what quotation marks do within a journalistic context -- they quote something. They're not a signal on this blog's position -- or lack thereof -- on the legality or impact of Schwarzenegger's furloughs.