Maryland Professional Employees Council

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This action was taken as part of a larger plan to address what was described as a shortfall in the fiscal 2009 budget of over two hundred million dollars. Yesterday’s Revenue Estimate was expected to add several hundred million more to the ’09 shortfall.

 

The plan calls for most state operations to be closed the day after Christmas and New Year’s, with affected employees not working those days. Rather than immediately deduct the employee’s pay for those days, the deduction will be spread out over ten pay periods beginning on February 11 (pay date March 4) through June 30, 2009. The State refers to this as the Temporary Salary Reduction Plan. By spreading out the reduction in pay over ten pay periods beginning in February, the impact to employees during the holiday period is lessened.

 

Employees earning less than $40,000 will not be affected any further, but those earning between $40,000 and $59,999 will be required to take an additional two days without pay as furlough days between January 14 and June 30, 2009. Employees earning $60,000 and over will take an additional three days in the same period.

 

The furloughs do not apply to shift employees in twenty four hour facilities. Any employee who is scheduled off on the two holidays, but called in to work in an emergency situation, will have to make up the time off with a later furlough date.

 

MPEC and other unions representing state employees met with the Governor and his staff for the last two weeks in an attempt to propose ways to lessen the affect of the furloughs on our members. We were able to get the administration to agree to furlough time being taken in four hour increments if desired by employees, rather than a full day at a time.

 

MPEC understands the current dire economic situation the State and the entire nation faces, and we recognize that the State must have a balanced budget. As our members make this personal sacrifice now, we will continue to work for a return of these lost benefits as conditions improve in the future.

 

Additional information is available on the DBM website at: www.dbm.maryland.gov