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:
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
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