Union takes furloughs to save (479) jobs

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

DES MOINES (AP) — The largest union representing state workers in Iowa has approved about $26 million in concessions in exchange for a promise of no immediate layoffs of its members, union leadership announced Monday.

Members of Council 61 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees voted 59 percent to 41 percent in favor of the concessions, which include making workers take off five days without pay and giving up about $75 a month in retirement contributions.

In exchange, the state promises that 479 workers will be spared layoffs.

Layoffs would have hit hard at the Department of Corrections for the 4th Judicial District, which includes Pottawattamie, Mills, Harrison, Fremont, Montgomery, Shelby, Cass, Page and Audubon Counties.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20091201/NEWS01/712019958

[avalonofmists]

1. WI has had layoffs in its Corrections all last year and will have them

this upcoming year also.

[cyberswede]

2. I'm glad.

I got to explain to my 9-year old about this today. We had a nice talk about how everyone can give a little to help everyone else.

We also talked about how Republicans are selfish. (Some ass-hat Republican state senator was on IPR spouting off about what the governor must have promised the union to get this vote to go this way, blah blah blah...)

Too bad the economy sucks do badly that the choice came to this, but I'm glad people stepped up for their fellow workers.