COSTA MESA : Proposed Pay Cuts Protested

Angry psychiatric technicians picketed in front of Fairview Developmental Center on Tuesday to protest the state’s proposal to cut 20% from their pay.

“When I think about what they want to do to us, and I can barely make it as it is, it makes me cry,” said Kimberly Harrington, a single mother who said she is already struggling financially to support herself and her two young daughters.

Harrington, who joined about 25 other employees on the picket line during her lunch break, is one of about 890 psychiatric technicians at Fairview. Their job is to feed, clothe, change diapers and provide other care for the developmentally disabled residents there. During the day, the number of technicians--wearing red shirts and carrying signs saying “No cuts”--grew outside the state hospital.

“We get patted on the back for the job we do every day,” said Harrington, who recently got her license and is at the bottom of the pay scale. “People say we’re special, but I’m not special enough to take a 20% pay cut without a fight.”

Contract negotiations between the state and the union broke off late last month after union officials rejected the proposal by the state Administration that would cut wages and benefits by 20%, including 5% in salary cuts and an increase in worker-paid health insurance costs. The contract for the 7,700 psychiatric technicians employed in state hospitals and developmental centers expired July 30.

David Tirapelle, director of the state Department of Personnel Administration, said the wage package for the psychiatric technicians is the same one that is on the bargaining table for all state employees.

The state declared an impasse a week ago, but on Monday the Public Employment Relations Board declared that negotiations should continue and sent both sides back to the bargaining table.

Tirapelle said negotiations are expected to resume on Monday.

Carol Darby, Fairview chapter president of the California Assn. of Psychiatric Technicians, said Tuesday the pay cuts would severely impact workers.

“I don’t know of anyone who can afford to lose one fifth of their salary,” Darby said, noting that employees would see $400 to $600 less in their paychecks each month. The pay range for technicians is now about $2,100 to $2,760 a month, Darby said. “We’re not asking for a pay raise. We’re just asking for them to leave our pay the same,” Darby said. “We all know the cost of living didn’t go down. To not get even a cost of living increase is equivalent to a salary cut.”

In addition, employees are angry because the state’s proposal includes eliminating merit pay increases and extra pay for holidays, Darby said.

Harrington, who worked full time and went to school for 18 months to get her license, said the pay cut might force her to go on welfare or find another job.

“I believe that Wilson is attacking the weak and the helpless because he thinks he can and all state employees should be out here fighting this man,” Harrington said. “People don’t realize he’s not just taking food out of these people’s mouths. He’s taking food out of my children’s mouths.”

The California Assn. of Psychiatric Technicians has mailed ballots to its 7,700 California workers asking for authority to call a strike if a contract is not negotiated.