Sep 10, 2009 4 min read

The union that represents nearly 200 Fayette County employees is floating a proposal to essentially close the courthouse one Friday every two weeks as a way to help the county cut costs until a state budget is adopted. The proposal, which will be voted on Friday by members of Local 668 of the Service Employees International Union, is being offered in response to a plan by two Fayette County commissioners that calls for having all county employees work 30 hours a week instead of 37.5 hours a week.

Rose Cindrick, business agent for SEIU Local 668, said Wednesday that the issue was discussed at a union meeting Tuesday afternoon.

“They are looking to do something and we are making a suggestion for something else,” Cindrick said.

Cindrick said the suggestion is to close the courthouse one Friday a pay period, or once every two weeks.

However, before Friday’s vote, Cindrick said there are more questions that need to be answered.

Commissioners Vincent Zapotosky and Vincent A. Vicites suggested the reduced workweek, but were advocating that “essential employees,” such as prison guards and 911 dispatchers, be exempt.

Cindrick said the union would like any action taken to be “fair and across the whole county.”

SEIU Local 668 represents about 150 employees in the general courthouse bargaining unit, plus about two-dozen Children and Youth Services caseworkers.

Zapotosky said Wednesday that the commissioners would wait until after the union vote to decide what steps will be taken to save money until a state budget is reached.

Zapotosky and Vicites earlier proposed a plan that calls for one unpaid day weekly. The union is calling for one unpaid day biweekly.

There are about 550 county employees, 120 of which are non-union.

Various county agencies that receive state funding, such as Children and Youth Services, Fayette County Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation, rely heavily on state funding, which has ceased since the state Legislature has not adopted a budget since the fiscal year began on July 1.

Zapotosky said although BHA has leftover funds, the agency has reduced services and may cut back on programs. Also, he said they haven’t paid providers for August. He said FACT is slated to get money for the medical assistance transportation program, but when that could occur is anybody’s guess.

Zapotosky said CYS is not paying providers except foster parents.

“We need to look at the bottom line, which is there has been no state funding since July,” Zapotosky said.

He said two-thirds of the county’s budget is from taxes and revenue and one-third is state-funded.

Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink is advocating that the commissioners work with the county agencies such as CYS, BHA and FACT on their plans of action until a budget is passed.

Zapotosky said the more time that goes by, the more critical it is to implement something to help offset the loss of state funds.

The commissioners, who also have mentioned layoffs, do not have to accept the union’s proposal, but will hold a meeting to implement any decision.

When House Democrats and Senate Republicans met last week they were $600 million apart on budget proposals, and are advocating increasing taxes and cutting programs, respectively, as a way to balance the budget. The state has a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall.

SEIU has made many suggestions on cuts that can be made in wasteful spending in the budget. The cost-saving suggestions can be found online at www.seiu668.org

“We are asking the public to contact their legislators to tell them to pass a fair budget, not one that makes drastic cuts in vital human service programs. Visit our Web site and click on the photo on the home page to take action and make your voice heard. You’ll be able to e-mail your legislators and give them this message,” Cindrick said.

“Our members are on the front lines, delivering vital human services for state and county governments. Here, in the Fayette County government, our members are the telecommunication officers who take your 911/emergency call, we protect the communities children and families at CYS, we provide transportation services for all of the county’s residents whether you may be going to dialysis, a doctor’s appointment or shopping at the mall, we are the workers in the courthouse and magistrates’ offices who provide many services to the taxpayers, we are workers at domestic relations and adult probation that help to protect families, children and taxpayers,” Cindrick said.

“We provide maintenance to the bridges in the county, we provide the ferry services in Fredericktown, we provide mental health and mental retardation services to the community, our members in the election bureau make it possible for you to vote. Our members provide services you can count on. We care about our clients and the taxpayers and that is why we’re fighting for human services funding.”