October 6, 2010

Union waits for response from DSHS on furlough negotiations; State to cut 725 jobs

The Federation and DSHS met for the second day today to bargain over the latest plan to propose additional furlough days because of the governor’s call for 6.3 percent cuts starting this past Friday.

The union gave management a comprehensive proposal at 10 a.m., but after six hours, DSHS negotiators said they’d have to study it more. We hope for a response tonight or tomorrow.

If there is no response, it calls into question whether DSHS can furlough the additional workers this coming Monday or in October at all.

The first day of bargaining on this new round of proposed furloughs was Monday.

So stay tuned. The existing furloughs mandated by the Legislature last spring and mitigated by the union will go forward Oct. 11 for those 25 percent of state employees affected.

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