Take action now to fight temporary layoffs

​The Office of Financial Management has officially informed WPEA of the potential for temporary layoffs of state employees, should the legislature fail to reach agreement on a budget by June 30. We’ve been in this situation the last two budget cycles as well.
You can read each agency’s contingency plan at http://ofm.wa.gov/contingency.

Under our 2015-2017 contract, the employer may temporarily lay off an employee for lack of funds, revenue shortfall, lack of work, or other unexpected reasons. If the temporary layoff occurs, it would begin on July 1. If you are temporarily laid off, you will still receive your health care benefits, and you will continue to accrue vacation leave and sick leave in accordance with the contract. Under a temporary layoff, you cannot cash out your accrued leave balance, bump to another position, or be placed on an internal layoff list. You can read more in each contract:

• Article 35.7 of the General Government contract
• Article 36.5 of the Higher Education contract
• Article 35.5 of the Highline contract
• Article 18 of the Yakima Valley contract

The best way to prevent a shutdown is to call your Senator and tell them it’s time to come to the table and pass a budget that supports public employees.

Read the letter from OFM