Caltrans State of California
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor of the State of California State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, It has been several months since the Legislature passed and you signed the State budget that provided the last contractual parity pay raises for Unit 9, Professional Engineers in California Government. While rank-and-file employees received the pay increases retroactive to July 1, 2008, DPA has not yet provided pay raises to the Unit 9 Supervisors and Managers. DPA’s explanation is that they are waiting for direction from your Office. We kindly ask you to consider the following: The funding for Unit 9 Supervisors and Managers’ pay increases, retroactive to July 1, 2008, was included in the State Budget that was passed by the Legislature and signed by you. Over 95% of Unit 9 salaries, including those for Supervisors and Managers, are paid out of Special Funds. While the State faces a substantial budget deficit in the General Fund, pay raises for Supervisors and Managers will have a negligible impact on that problem. Historically, the Unit 9 Supervisors and Managers have received the same pay raises as the Unit 9 rank-and-file Seniors. The current predicament has led to the absurd situation of subordinates being paid more than their supervisors. Not only is this inequitable compensation for the Senior series, given the increased level of responsibility and decision making inherent in supervision, but in the long run will lead to mass exodus of talent from the supervisory ranks. The State engineers and architects are responsible for the design, construction oversight and maintenance of a large portion of California’s infrastructure from bridges and highways to schools, hospitals and community colleges. Unit 9 Supervisors and Managers will perform the immediate supervision, direction and management for the State’s infrastructure work, which is one of the pillars of the economic recovery for the State and the Nation. Therefore, your immediate attention to this matter is essential.
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