09/04/2009: "Union Approves Voluntary Furloughs"

One creative way for governments across the country to save money, is to have a furlough program in place to decrease the payroll. The ideal is to let workers take some time off, but not be paid for the days they do not work; however they can retain retirement benefits. It is not vacation time or sick time, which is paid time off.

One problem can be a union contract. Some of the employees’ of San Juan County are represented by Local 1849 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). As a result, over fifty per cent of the County workers are protected by a contract, that as written, does not allow a furlough program.

When the idea of a furlough plan came up, it was decided by the County Council to offer the employees an “option to take voluntary furlough days to help reduce payroll costs this year.” But for the union members, that required union approval of a new policy.

After meeting in private with the union, they and the County have come to an agreement that will allow an employee to take up to a total of five days off -without pay- as long as the proposed days are approved in advance by the County.

As for those employees who are not members of a union, some have already taken uncompensated days off; which has reduced the need for some further cuts in the budget.

Because the furloughs are strictly voluntary, County officials say there is no way to project how much money may be saved, but County Administrator Pete Rose said it was heartening that the union came forward with this proposal to allow its members to take voluntary furloughs.

An announcement sent to employees on September 3 said that applications to take furlough days this year must be turned in to department heads by September 27.