It’s expected that the Snyder administration will announce today whether the state will issue layoff notices to some 50,000 state employees, the Detroit News reports. The administration wants $265 million worth of concessions from state employees but state employee unions say there are other ways for the state to save money.
Negotiations have been under way between the Snyder administration and state employees since July but a deal has not been reached. From the Detroit News:
Gov. Rick Snyder met Wednesday with his top budget officials, just ahead of today's deadline for sending out notices if the state opts to lay off employees Oct. 1. Kurt Weiss, a spokesman for the Department of Technology, Management and Budget, said internal discussions were continuing… State officials have been told to prepare contingency plans for layoffs in case concessions can't be negotiated. Because a 30-day layoff notice is required, the state would have to send out notices today if it wanted to achieve a full year of savings by making any layoffs effective Oct. 1. Talks have been under way, but no progress has been made, Weiss said.
"State employee unions say state government is top heavy with managers and has too many contracts – and the Snyder administration should look those first before looking to squeeze more from frontline workers or lay them off," Lansing reporter Rick Pluta explains.
