UC Provost Issues Message About Governor's Executive Order

By Lisa Cisneros

Provost and Executive Vice President Wyatt R. Hume told UC employees that the University will make “every effort to ensure that employee salaries will be paid at the current levels and that all current labor contracts will be honored until an agreement is reached on a state budget.” Hume was responding to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's executive order on July 31 laying off thousands of temporary employees and reducing pay for 200,000 workers to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 per hour. The Republican governor said he signed his executive order to preserve cash and ensure the state can pay its bills. California has been operating without a budget since the new fiscal year began on July 1 as the Legislature and governor work on a budget plan. The state faces a projected deficit of $17.2 billion. Here is the full text of Hume’s message to the UC system:
Colleagues:

Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-09-08 today implementing various provisions in an effort to reduce the state’s cash obligations during the current budget impasse. State agencies are ordered to desist in hiring of new employees, transferring employees between agencies and departments, promoting employees, and contracting for services. In addition, State agencies are required to discontinue any authority for overtime and terminate the services of retired annuitants, permanent intermittent employees, seasonal employees, temporary help and student assistants. The Governor’s Executive Order will also reduce state employee salaries to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 per hour in compliance with the White v. Davis court opinion.

As [UC] President [Mark] Yudof indicated in his message last week, the gravity of not having a state budget is great. However given our experience in prior years with similar budget situations, we will continue to make every effort to ensure that employee salaries will be paid at the current levels and that all current labor contracts will be honored until an agreement is reached on a State budget. At the same time, UC will take appropriate measures to work with the Governor’s Office and the Department of Finance on alternative options in lieu of salary reductions at this time.

Again, we will keep you informed if the University obligation regarding this issue changes.

Sincerely,

Wyatt R. Hume
Provost and Executive Vice President

Related Links:

UC President Issues Statement on Employee Pay