IL Gov. Quinn orders 24 furlough days for all non-union employees

source http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2010/07/16/this-just-in-quinn-orders-24-furlough-days-for-non-union-employees/

*11:18 am - Subscribers already knew about this. The governor is attempting to ease the widespread and sharp criticism over his big raises for 35 staff members by doubling last year's 12 unpaid furlough days to 24 for every non-union employee. Here's the announcement via press release…

Governor Pat Quinn today directed his Budget Office to issue an administrative order to cut the state budget by reducing the salaries of his staff, state managers and policymakers. Administrative Order #1 requires the Governor's staff and the state's merit compensation employees – largely managers and policy staff – to take 24 unpaid days off.

Last year, Governor Quinn took 12 days without pay and required his staff and merit compensation employees to do the same. This year, Governor Quinn and his staff will take 24 unpaid days off.

Governor Quinn urged members of the Illinois General Assembly and their staffs to take 24 unpaid days off. He also called on the state's union employees to take additional days off without pay.

"Today's Administrative Order is the first directive under the Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 aimed at further cutting state spending," said Governor Quinn. "We must take continued actions to reduce state spending and strengthen the Illinois economy."

Today's Administrative Order #1 is an across-the-board salary reduction that will result in a 9.2 percent salary cut for the Governor's staff and state managers and policymakers. This plan will save the state approximately $18 million in fiscal year 2011.

"Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures, and I thank our hardworking state employees for their dedication in getting Illinois back on track," said Governor Quinn. "Today, I am calling on all state employees – not just managers and policymakers, but the Illinois General Assembly, their staffs and union members as well – to join us in taking the necessary steps to further cut the state budget."

Governor Quinn also called American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) – the state's largest collective bargaining unit – back to the bargaining table to negotiate additional unpaid days off in fiscal year 2011.

The full administrative order can be downloaded by clicking here.

…Adding… While the press release refers to the governor's staff, state managers and policymakers, the order specifically says "All non-bargaining unit state employees." Then again, just about everybody is in a bargaining unit these days.

…Adding More… From the administrative order…

The time off from work required here, and resulting reduction in compensation, is not considered a change in salary and shall not impact pension or other benefits provided to those employees.

Translation: The furloughs won't hurt the pensions of Quinn's staffers who just got those big pay raises.

…Adding Still More… A friend of mine tells me her sister, who makes $45K a year and is not in a union, is just about at her wit's end right now. She simply cannot afford this new furlough order and is not allowed to join a bargaining unit. The original Quinn plan was reportedly to apply this new furlough to those making over $50K a year. No such luck for my friend's sister.

* Related…

* Republicans blast Quinn pay increases

* Legislation proposes limits on governor's pay hikes

* Republicans hope to limit raises for employees of governor's office