Update on Furloughs
04/01/2009

Dear Members of MSUFT Local 1904,

The Council’s Executive Committee met this past Friday.
Council President Nick Yovnello brought us up to date on furloughs. What he had to say indicated that we might be out of the line of fire for the moment on furloughs.

Here are the details:

1) The Civil Service Commission’s ruling to allow furloughs does not apply to the State Colleges and Universities. While there is some question as to whether campus-based CWA and IFPTE units might be subject to furlough as the employees in these units are part of Civil Service, it appears that our unit members, who are not Civil Service employees, are safe for the time being.

2) Most of the Presidents of the nine State Colleges/Universities have publicly stated that they will not support the furloughs unless directly ordered to do so. Some of the Presidents have even questioned whether the proposed furloughs are legal.

3) The Council will continue to support the CWA lawsuit on furloughs. We want to strongly support CWA because we need to stand strong as a labor movement.

4) Please check the March issue of the VOICE for Council President Yovnello's comments on developments regarding furloughs, layoffs, and contract re-openers. Paper copies of the VOICE are in the pipeline for distribution and you will receive them shortly.

I will issue new updates as I get more information on the impact of the budget crisis on our members.

In solidarity,

Dierdre Glenn Paul

President, MSUFT Local 1904

dierdre.glenn.paul@aftlocal1904.org