City proposes furloughs to address economic downturn
Unions discussing proposal with membership

SEATTLE – The city of Seattle has proposed to the Coalition of City Unions a 10-day furlough program aimed at reducing the number of layoffs required in 2010. If approved by union membership, the city would extend the same program to non-represented city employees.

“Over the past several months, we have worked together with our unions and I appreciate their cooperation in these difficult budget times,” said Mayor Greg Nickels.

Under the proposal, approximately 6,700 workers, including coalition union members whose bargaining units ratify the agreement and non-represented employees, would take 10 furlough days spread across the year.  Uniformed police and fire personnel, and employees represented by IBEW 77 are not part of this furlough proposal at this time.  

The city has seen a continued drop in sales tax and business and occupation tax revenues, and a revised revenue forecast used for planning the 2010 budget will be available by the end of the month. The furlough plan would help preserve services for city residents by reducing the number of city employees who would be laid off in 2010 due to the recession. This plan would save approximately $8 million from the general fund and a total of up to $20 million from the entire city budget.

The proposal is being discussed with the 20 unions that make up the coalition. Under the plan, furlough schedules would be assigned so that most city services would remain open to the public. Some exceptions to the furloughs would be allowed, such as for employees whose departments have minimum staffing and operational requirements, and for employees earning less than $18 an hour.

In May, the mayor made $13.3 million in mid-year cuts from the general fund budget while preserving funding for public safety and direct human services. To reduce the number of layoffs in 2009, full-time employees at the Seattle Public Utilities call center went to a 38-hour-a-week schedule, and employees at Seattle Public Libraries will take a one-week furlough this month. In 2009, the mayor also implemented furloughs for professional staff in several departments and rolled back salaries for 100 senior managers to 2008 levels. In 2010, those salaries will remain at 2008 levels.

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