Elsewhere: Up to 15,000 City Workers Bracing for Pink Slip Friday SF Weekly, San Francisco mayor implements shorter workweek Ex, It’s Official — ‘Around 15,000’ City Workers to Be Laid Off Friday SF Weekly, Mayor announces move to cut city workers’ hours ABC7, 15,000 S.F. workers face layoffs, shorter weeks Chron
6:28 PM:San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom this afternoon announced plans to cut the workweek for 15,000 full-time city employees to 37.5 hours per week as a cost-cutting measure.
The mayor’s office today clarified that approximately 15,000 of the city’s 26,000 workers will begin receiving layoff notices on Friday, and not 20,000 as it said earlier.
Newsom said the plan would save the city $50 million from its general fund, and $100 million from the entire city budget.
The city has an estimated budget deficit of $522 million for the coming fiscal year.
“This is a very defensible thing, in a very difficult time,” Newsom insisted.
Newsom said the layoff notices are a “technical” measure, and that the “overwhelming majority” of the noticed workers would be rehired immediately, should they so choose, at a part-time status, working a half-hour less each day. That would amount to an approximately 6.25-percent pay cut, he said.
“This is a way of … substantially maintaining our city services,” Newsom said. He said it would save “arguably thousands of jobs,” though future additional layoffs will still be necessary, he added.
“We are offering what we believe is a very pro-labor … at least a pro-job alternative,” Newsom said. He maintained that ongoing discussions with labor groups had not resulted in “any better ideas.”
Positions that “clearly generate revenue” will be spared layoff notices, Newsom said, but the plan “will impact every city department,” he said.
Additionally, Newsom said he’s been asking for similar 6.25-percent concessions from other city departments, such as police, that can’t be asked for these layoffs because of the charter.
Newsom fended off union contentions that he doesn’t have the authority to issue these layoffs.
“A good look at the charter would suggest otherwise,” he said.
Asked if some employees will end up working that extra half-hour without pay in order to complete all their tasks, Newsom shot back, “Well, they have a job.”
“Is this draconian, or is laying off 5,000 people draconian,” he asked.
4:19 PM: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom this afternoon is announcing plans to cut the work week for 20,000 full-time city employees to 37.5 hours per week.
The workers will be given pink slips and will the have the option to be rehired immediately in their same positions with fewer hours, Newsom spokesman Tony Winnicker said.
The mayor’s office estimates the move will save the city $50 million annually. The city has an estimated budget deficit of $522 million for the coming fiscal year.
Newsom plans to discuss details of the plan with media this afternoon.
