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Revised California budget proposes firefighter salary cuts

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AdvertisementRevised California budget proposes firefighter salary cutsHide TranscriptShow TranscriptFROM SOME OF OUR FRONT-LINE WORKERS. &gt;&gt; THE CONDITIONS THAT HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES THROUGH THIS HEALTH CRISIS HAVE MANIFESTED IN THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS. THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT WE ARE ASKED TO DO IS VERY SIGNIFICANT. &gt;&gt; TO MEET THE DRASTIC SAVINGS, THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING A 10% SALARY CUT FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, WHICH WOULD SAVE ABOUT $2.8 BILLION. &gt;&gt; IT’S SERIOUSLY BAD IDEA. IT’S A TAX ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO DO A JOB. YOU TAKE 10% OF THE GOVERNOR’S SALARY, IT DOESN’T HURT HIM. HE’S GOT PLENTY OF MONEY. REPORTER: AMONG THE CUTS ARE THE SALARIES OF CAL FIRE FIREFIGHTERS. &gt;&gt; I WOULD DISAGREE. THEY WORK HARD AND THEY RISK THEIR LIVES. I ALREADY THOUGHT THEY WERE KIND OF UNDERPAID. AND TO GET EVEN LESS NOW, I FIND IT PRETTY RIDICULOUS. REPORTER: CAL FIRE’S UNION LEADER AGREES. &gt;&gt; CAL FIRE AS A WHOLE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS LOWER PAID THAN OUR COUNTERPARTS IN LOCAL AND COUNTY CONTRACTS ALREADY. REPORTER: JUST ONE DAY AGO, THE GOVERNOR REPEATED HIS COMMITMENT OF HIRING HUNDREDS OF ADDITIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS. &gt;&gt; ON ONE HAND, IT’S VERY FORTUNATE THAT THEY’RE STILL TRYING TO PURSUE THE STAFFING FOR US GOING INTO THIS FIRE SEASON WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE DAYS THAT OUR GUYS ARE STUCK AWAY FROM HOME ON THESE FIRES REPORTER: RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN WILDFIRE PRONE AREAS HOPE THE RECRUITMENT CONTINUES. BUT THINK OFFERING UP LOWER WAGES IS A BAD IDEA CONSIDERING WHAT WE’VE EXPERIENCED IN THE REGION THE LAST FEW YEARS. &gt;&gt; IF ANYTHING, THOSE GUYS DESERVE A RAISE FOR WHAT THEY DO OUT HERE AND FOR PROTECTING THE HILLS AND THE RURAL COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR FIRES. REPORTER: THE NEW BUDGET DO KEEP $200 MILLION FOR CAL FIRE AND CAL OES SERVICES WHICH THE GOVERNOR ORIGINALLY PROPOSED IN JANUARY. BUT IN THE END RESIDENTS WANT THE GOVERNOR TO RETHINK THOSE SALARY CUTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS . &gt;&gt; I DO NOT THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO CUT BACK OAdvertisementRevised California budget proposes firefighter salary cutsDrastic cuts to the California's budget are largely due to a recession caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak. Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers approve a budget by mid-June that fills estimated $54 billion deficit. "The conditions that have presented themselves to this height of the health crisis have manifested in this economic crisis," Newsom said in his news conference Thursday. "The magnitude of what we are asked to do is very significant." To balance the budget, one of the cuts Newsom is proposing is a 10% salary cut for state employees. The salary cuts will also impact Cal Fire firefighters. "They definitely work hard and they definitely risk their lives, and I already thought they were kind of underpaid," said Halle Mathews of Auburn. "To get even less now, I find it's pretty ridiculous." Cal Fire's Local 2881 Union President agreed. "Cal Fire, as a whole fire department, is lower paid than our counterparts in local and county contracts already," said Tim Edwards.On Wednesday, Newsom repeated his commitment of hiring hundreds of additional firefighters. "On one hand, it's very fortunate that they're still trying to pursue the staffing for us going into this season, which is extremely important because of the days that our guys are stuck away from home on these fires," Edwards said. Residents who live in wildfire-prone areas hope the recruitment continues, but they think offering lower wages is a bad idea considering the state has experienced so much destruction by wildfires over the last few years. "If anything, those guys deserve a raise for what they do out here and for protecting the hills and the rural communities, especially for fires," said John Souza of Auburn.In the revised budget, Newsom is sticking with his January proposal to spend more than $200 million to hire more than 500 additional state firefighters and about 100 support personnel.Drastic cuts to the California's budget are largely due to a recession caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak. Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers approve a budget by mid-June that fills estimated $54 billion deficit.Advertisement"The conditions that have presented themselves to this height of the health crisis have manifested in this economic crisis," . "The magnitude of what we are asked to do is very significant." To balance the budget, one of the cuts Newsom is proposing is a 10% salary cut for state employees. The salary cuts will also impact Cal Fire firefighters. "They definitely work hard and they definitely risk their lives, and I already thought they were kind of underpaid," said Halle Mathews of Auburn. "To get even less now, I find it's pretty ridiculous." Cal Fire's Local 2881 Union President agreed."Cal Fire, as a whole fire department, is lower paid than our counterparts in local and county contracts already," said Tim Edwards.On of hiring hundreds of additional firefighters. "On one hand, it's very fortunate that they're still trying to pursue the staffing for us going into this [wildfire] season, which is extremely important because of the days that our guys are stuck away from home on these fires," Edwards said. Residents who live in wildfire-prone areas hope the recruitment continues, but they think offering lower wages is a bad idea considering the state has experienced so much destruction by wildfires over the last few years. "If anything, those guys deserve a raise for what they do out here and for protecting the hills and the rural communities, especially for fires," said John Souza of Auburn.In the revised budget, Newsom is sticking with his January proposal to spend more than $200 million to hire more than 500 additional state firefighters and about 100 support personnel.Loading more articles...

AdvertisementRevised California budget proposes firefighter salary cutsHide TranscriptShow TranscriptFROM SOME OF OUR FRONT-LINE WORKERS. &gt;&gt; THE CONDITIONS THAT HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES THROUGH THIS HEALTH CRISIS HAVE MANIFESTED IN THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS. THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT WE ARE ASKED TO DO IS VERY SIGNIFICANT. &gt;&gt; TO MEET THE DRASTIC SAVINGS, THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING A 10% SALARY CUT FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, WHICH WOULD SAVE ABOUT $2.8 BILLION. &gt;&gt; IT’S SERIOUSLY BAD IDEA. IT’S A TAX ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO DO A JOB. YOU TAKE 10% OF THE GOVERNOR’S SALARY, IT...

Revised California budget proposes firefighter salary cuts

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