Agreement reached on temporary layoff impacts

The Department of Social and Health Services and WFSE/AFSCME have reached an agreement on a “memorandum of understanding” that mitigates the impacts of expanded temporary layoffs required to meet the Governor’s directive to achieve 6.3 percent across-the-board reductions for the current fiscal year.

Bargaining went on throughout the day and night yesterday and an accord was reached early this morning.

Among the highlights of the agreement:

• Eight temporary layoff days for those previously exempt under the temporary layoff law passed by the Legislature this year

• Exemption for employees making $2,500 a month in full-time equivalent salary unless their office or work location is closed, in which case they can exercise several leave option

• Reduced workload expectations during temporary layoff months

• No loss of state retirement benefits because of income lost due to temporary layoff days

• Department commits to making it a priority to use other salary savings to reduce the impact of temporary layoff days

• Department will suspend performance evaluations through June 30, 2011 for most represented employees

• Waiver of requirement for advance written notice of temporary layoff days; one temporary layoff letter for each employee for the entire duration of the temporary layoffs

• Flexibility in scheduling temporary layoff days

The agreement is posted online at: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ea/moadshswfse.pdf