July 23, 2004
July 23, 2004
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today applauded the recent action of the Michigan Civil Service Commission to extend special pay and group insurance benefits to state employees who have been called to active military duty since September 11, 2001.
Governor Granholm had called on the Commission to extend the special pay and benefits at the end of the last fiscal year. The benefits were set to expire on September 30, 2004. The extension will allow the benefits to continue until September 30, 2005. The special pay is equivalent to the difference between the employee’s military pay and regular state salary. The State will also continue to pay the employer’s portion of the cost of continuing group medical, dental, and vision insurance.
“Our state employees who have been called to active military duty responded without question, and the least we can do is supplement their military pay and ensure that they and their families are covered by the state’s group insurance plan until they are home and back to work,” Granholm said. “Their selfless service to our country is greatly appreciated, and I extend my gratitude on behalf of all state employees to the Civil Service Commission for granting this extension at its meeting on Thursday.”
The extension covers all non-exclusively represented employees. It will apply to exclusively-represented employees after each union agrees to extend the terms of previous Letters of Understanding granting these benefits.
“The Governor and Office of the State Employer are committed to making sure our employees who are actively serving in the military and their families are not burdened with additional sacrifices,” said Office of the State Employer Director David Fink. “I commend the Civil Service Commission on its decision to continue to extend special pay and benefits to our employees actively serving in the military.”
# # #
