Lansing (MI) –
About 4,300 state workers represented by the Michigan State Employees Association may have to take five furlough days in 2010 if an agreement can't be reached.
The Office of the State Employer and the union have discussed concessions, but haven't agreed on any. State officials said Thursday they were imposing five furlough days to help cut $50,000,000 from personnel costs.
Earlier this month, a tentative agreement was reached with Service Employees International Union Local 517M that would require workers to defer two hours of pay as banked leave time for 17 pay periods. Workers hired after April 1 would have higher health insurance premiums and copays.
SEIU members are voting on that contract. The state could still impose up to four furlough days on them.