To help alleviate the county’s deficit, Riverside workers held an economic summit in May and generated cost saving recommendations totaling $9 million. Recommendations included implementing different work schedules, extending early retirement, implementing hiring freezes and more.
However, Riverside County management rejected all recommendations and instead proposed a final offer that includes drastic cuts to public services, severe wage cuts exceeding 20 percent, furloughs and more.
“We’ve offered a reasonable cost-saving approach that will protect our community,” said SEIU 721 member Barbara Cayon. “Instead the county is choosing to undermine child safety, take away trauma services and place the public at risk by furloughing critical public service workers.”
SEIU 721 members are scheduled to speak out for public services at the Tuesday, July 14, budget meeting, at the County Administration Center, 4080 Lemon St. in Riverside.
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