Mayor would cut S.F. workers' week to save cash

[The Northerner]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

More than 10,000 San Francisco city workers - from librarians and gardeners to secretaries and street cleaners - would be laid off and most rehired for jobs with shorter hours under a controversial plan being examined by Mayor Gavin Newsom.

The idea, which sprouted in the mayor's budget office and was described to his department heads on Monday, would reduce the workweek for a large swath of the city's 26,000 full-time employees from 40 hours to 37.5.

Newsom's budget office estimates that paying workers for 2.5 fewer hours of work each week would save more than $50 million a year as the city grapples with how to close a devastating $522 million budget gap for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Health and vacation benefits would not be affected, though pensions - which are calculated based on workers' salaries - would reflect the shaved schedules.

"We have to look at unprecedented tools to close an unprecedented shortfall," said Tony Winnicker, spokesman for the mayor. "These times call for unusual measures, so we have to look at all options."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/08/MNL11BUIRI.DTL

[pinniped]

1. He could eliminate the numerous jobs he created for his buddies that pay over 100k,....

but these people likely funded his campaign, so it's a no-go.