The plan mentions “short term universal shared sacrifice.” What does this mean?
This means that all employees would be asked to participate equitably. For example, if employees are asked not to work for a number of days at the end of this fiscal year, this would result in a cost savings for those days in this fiscal year (ending June 30, 2009). These days will then be added to the work calendar for the first half of the next fiscal year (between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009), and employees will be paid accordingly. Under this proposal, annual salaries will not be reduced. This is a “short-term universal sacrifice” on the part of all employees, which will result in the long-term benefits of preserving jobs, maintaining salaries, avoiding layoffs, and maintaining the educational programs such as physical education, art, music and bilingual programs that are so important to our students and parents.
