SF city downsizing slashes workers’ paychecks

February update on city layoffs

 I want to thank everyone who supported the pitch and followed our reporting over the last few months. Here is another update.

We commissioned the city for layoff numbers. From May through September, the city issued 3,230 layoff notices to save $50 million and bridge a $538 million deficit. The city was ultimately able to rescind the notices sent to more than 2,000 of these workers.

After receiving these numbers, our story has evolved, and it has actually become more interesting. We spent several months looking at the circumstances – both within the city and the union – surrounding the layoffs.

As many of you may have read about, there are increasing tensions between SEIU 1021 – the union which employs the most city workers – and Mayor Gavin Newsom. Alternatively, the union has experienced internal issues. SEIU 1021 is a newly created entity, a conglomerate of ten smaller locals. Critics have charged that the merging has led to conflict and disorganization.

Our story delves into the politics surrounding the layoffs. Why did these employees lose their jobs?  Before you read our story, I want to direct you to other relevant reporting. Here are several stories: 

1.      This is an interesting piece which discusses recent city layoffs. The story outlines a layoff breakdown by department. The majority of the layoffs are health department employees.

2.      The blog above was run the San Francisco Bay Guardian. The paper ran a story in print last week which details the internal conflicts of SEIU 1021 – the union which lost the most city employees to layoffs.

3. Looking forward, as the recession continues to devastate California municipalities, San Francisco may be sending pink slips to more than 900 school employees – over 300 teachers – this week. The story ran in the San Francisco Chronicle.

4. Also, in an effort to save the city money, Supervisor Sean Elsbernd has proposed legislation to reform the cities’ pension system. The legislations will force workers to contribute 7.5 percent of paychecks to their own pensions, among other changes. The legislation is opposed by SEIU. The San Francisco Chronicle endorsed the legislation.

These are all great stories. Our story will discuss elements of each, and we will tie everything together in the context of last year’s policy debate.