Mandatory Furloughs

[Steve Everist]

I was just wondering how many agencies have some sort of mandatory furlough imposed on them as a result of budget deficits. In 2009 King County, through union vote, agreed to 10 nonconsecutive days (or 80 hours) for non-essential personnel. These days were planned ahead of time to, for the most part, coincide with national holidays so that buildings could be shut down for extended periods of time while giving extended weekends to the employees.

Information can be found at http://www.komonews.com/news/local/36206974.html

It looks like it may be in the works again for 2010, including the possible canceling of 40 hours of time reimbursement that were agreed upon by our union vote in late 2008 for the 2009 year.

I've heard from several different people of a variety of furlough schemes for dealing with budget deficits. I'm curious how pervasive this has been this year and for next year. Just doing a simple Google News search for "mandatory furlough" gives 173 responses in the last month.

[Amy Hart]

Here's the latest in my state:

http://www.sj-r.com/news/x2024000371/St ... off-battle

[Ann Horsman]

It may happen in VT. That will be very difficult as my area increased property taxes 36% and it is one of the most expensive places to live. Our Governor is very highly paid and is surrounded by lots of high paid staff and they are not facing cuts. I've also been working without a partner for two of the three years I have been here and my back log is pretty high.

So I hope it does not happen here, comparatively I don't make a competative salary with neighboring states.

[esmaltz]

Scottsdale Police Department did not implement a mandatory work furlough. They instead implemented a 2% pay cut. I have heard that Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has implemented a mandatory work furlough. I think theirs was 50 hours.

[jpadilla5]

Our union voted to have them written in to our one year MOU extension. It's a complicated formula, but basically we are put on mandatory furloughs for 40 hours if the city profits go below a certain level. The amount of time we all have to take depends on when the furloughs are put into affect. The 40 hours of furlough time are pro-rated throught the year and it ends July 2010. We would schedule our own days off accordingly with our supervisors.

[Steve Everist]

Our story is getting a little more interesting lately. There's been a ruling that the county can't make employees with contracts take mandatory furloughs. However they were voted on at the last minute, and approved by our union. But, that was under the threat that they'd likely be imposed as well as a previously bargained COLA would be revoked:

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/410689_u ... source=rss

[Charles Parker]

None proposed here. There was some talk but due to the heat wave and drought the City Owned Power company made more than was expected. Plus they found monies in other places as well.