Beginning in August, 150,000 California state workers will have to take unpaid furloughs of three days a week. The Governor declared a financial state of emergency on Wednesday, and says that the furloughs are necessary to stave off a crisis. Many have called the move a political one, saying that it is to put pressure on the legislature and unions. Exempted from the order are those unions who have previously made deals with the state. A spokesman for the California Assembly Speaker said that the move only hurts people. Employees not paid from the state's general fund, tax collectors, and those who work in the legislative and judicial branches are not subject to furloughs a the Governor's order, but he has asked that they implement them separately. The furloughs are estimated to save around $147 million a month. California has a $19.1 billion deficit.
See "Schwarzenegger orders a new round of unpaid furloughs", Shane Goldmacher, Los Angeles Times, July 28, 2010