December 17, 2009
December 17, 2009
LANSING - The Office of the State Employer has notified the Michigan State Employees Association (MSEA) that state of Michigan departments are preparing plans for five furlough (temporary layoff) days for MSEA bargaining unit employees.
The state and MSEA have had discussions regarding concessions, but no agreement has been reached. The lack of an agreement has led to the state's decision to impose furlough days to achieve MSEA's share of the $50 million in employee concessions assumed in the state's fiscal year 2010 budget, as provided for in the contract.
The furloughs for MSEA-represented employees will begin in late January. Affected employees will be notified as required by the MSEA collective bargaining agreement as departments complete plans that will meet operational needs. Up to 20 temporary layoff days are allowed under the MSEA collective bargaining agreement.
The MSEA represents approximately 4,300 employees in the labor and trades and safety and regulatory bargaining units.
Earlier this month a tentative agreement was reached with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 517M covering three other state employee bargaining units which, if ratified by their membership, will achieve the SEIU's share of savings identified in the FY 2010 budget.
Discussions with other bargaining units continue.
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