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Santa Barbara County Workers Resist Premature Call for Service Cuts

Members Demand More Data from County

Santa Barbara is asking residents and SEIU members to rubber-stamp service cuts -- without looking at alternatives or waiting for a full picture. We are fighting back.

Over the last couple of months, SEIU staff and member leaders have been receiving unofficial reports from Santa Barbara County of the possible impact of the $15 billion state budget crisis. At a June meeting about the budget outlook, county management presented seven scenarios to help meet their goal to reduce the budget deficit. SEIU members did not commit to any of them nor do we intend to until we receive more detailed information from the County and learn what the true state budget will be.

"As we all know, information about the state budget is changing daily and we don’t want to commit to anything that hurts workers or the people in the community that need these vital services," said Rey Ybarra, Eligibility Worker and Santa Barbara County Chapter President.

In the County’s proposal, each of the scenarios included one or more of the following: furloughs, extending the length of the contract, delaying equity increases or delaying wage increases. The delays ranged from six months to a year. Only after SEIU has better information from the County, will we negotiate with the County.  The County is currently meeting with each union representing county workers.

"The County believes that the Social Services Departmental budget deficit ranges from $3.5-$5 million but in order for our research department to confirm these numbers we need many more details from the county," said Ybarra. SEIU’s research department is also verifying facts and figures at the state level.

Immediate Steps
  • SEIU has been assured that there will not be any immediate lay-offs nor will there be any lay-offs until the County has met its obligation to meet and discuss impact, seniority and other legal requirements.
  • We expect the County to continue to meet their obligation with the 2008 equity increases that were negotiated with the latest contract.
  • SEIU is prepared to file Unfair Charges against the County if they do not meet their obligations and meet about the equity increases.
  • Members are working on alternative ideas to the County’s proposed cuts.  County workers believe that there are ways to reduce costs without having to take pay cuts or furloughs.  
  • Members will be meeting with the Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors to present their ideas to reduce costs.
  • SEIU members, the community and other unions will hold a rally on July 2nd to highlight the state budget crisis and the impact it is having on Santa Barbara.

SEIU believes that the final budget could look drastically different than the one announced in May.  However, Santa Barbara County would like for County workers to accept the budget picture as they now see it and not second guess their proposed cuts. Santa Barbara members think there are other ways to reduce costs then on the backs of workers but know that it will take some work to convince the County.