DMV could get furlough relief

The Costa Mesa Department of Motor Vehicles office could be affected by a Northern California judge’s ruling last week that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger does not have the authority to force work furloughs for some state employees, union officials said Monday.

In a writ of mandate handed down Thursday, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch said Schwarzenegger could not force three-times-a-month furloughs by Service Employees International Union members whose salaries are covered under special state funds.

Local union spokesman Naj Alikhan said local workers, such as those in the Costa Mesa DMV, could get some relief from the furloughs.

The Service Employees International Union represents more than 700,000 workers in California and is the largest bargaining group in the state, union and state officials said.

Union and state officials will have to wait a few weeks for Roesch to submit his official judgment, which will hand down a specific order for the state to follow, Alikhan said.

When that judgment is submitted, the governor’s office will immediately appeal it, said Aaron McLear, the governor’s press secretary. The union will request a halt to all furloughs while the appeal works its way through the courts, but that probably won’t be granted, McLear said.

Furloughs for some state employees is are part of California’s attempt to work with a depleted budget.

The furloughs are estimated to save the state $1.4 billion through June 30. If the furloughs stop, the state may have to cut pay or lay people off, McLear said.

The Alameda County ruling comprises only three of 24 lawsuits against the state related to furloughs, state officials said. Both the state and employee unions have had their share of wins and losses in the matter.

“Whether we win or the union wins, the side that loses appeals it. Ultimately, they’ll [all] be decided by the state Supreme Court,” McLear said.