King County workers choose furloughs

THE CHOICE was placed before King County’s union employees.

In the light of the county’s $93 million shortfall, they could:

• Accept a drop in the cost-of-living allowance from 5 to 3 percent along with hundreds of layoffs; or

• Retain the 5 percent cost-of-living allowance, but take 10 days off without pay during the year.

The coalition of unions that represents most county workers — including Council 2 — weighed up the choices and negotiated the second option. As a result, county offices will be closed for an additional 10 days this year.

The closed days are mostly connected to existing public holidays, giving in many instances an extended long weekend. But, unlike the public holiday, the furlough day will be without pay.

“We were able to keep the wage adjustment and avoid hundreds of layoffs,” says Council 2 Staff Representative Diana Prenguber, who represents Council 2 employees in the coalition.

“Basically, all county employees, except for essential workers, such as police, firemen and corrections officers, will take 10 days without pay during the year.”

Part of the deal with King County also was to extend the existing cola formula for an additional year, thereby avoiding new wage bargaining during a year in which the economy is under siege.

The cola formula is now guaranteed through 2010.