Union rep suggests options to furloughs

Howell employees get unpaid time off in cost-saving measure

BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer

HOWELL — Municipal employees and residents have questioned what they called the equity of the recently implemented periodic unpaid furloughs that Howell’s union, non-union and management personnel are being required to take this year as a costsaving measure.

During a Township Council meeting on Feb. 17, Township Manager Helene Schlegel and Mayor Robert Walsh tried to explain to a standing room only crowd that the furloughs are fair in regard to their impact on employees.

Schlegel said the furloughs are a reasonable option when compared to the alternative of what she described as massive layoffs of municipal personnel.

A furlough requires an individual to take unpaid time off from his job, but the individual does not lose the position.

“Over the past several weeks the dialogue has ignored the most important com- ponent,” Schlegel said. “My obligation is to provide the citizens with effective government and efficient services. I had to determine how to achieve the goals and still maintain the structure.

“The furlough plan is fair and equitable. This plan would pass any reasonable test of fairness. The furloughs are best for the town as a whole. None of us want to experience the alternative. At the end of the day everyone is still employed with benefits,” Schlegel said.

Marie Zito, chairperson for Transport Workers Union Local 225, is a 13-year employee of the township and has lived in Howell for 22 years. She asked why TWU members must take 12 weeks off compared to department heads who are taking off two weeks.

Zito suggested several alternatives that she said would end the furloughs and save Howell money. She asked each member of the council to consider giving up the $5,500 stipend they receive for serving on the governing body. She said that would save Howell $27,500.

She said she found a possible savings to Howell’s recycling service. With file in hand, she displayed a list of complaints from residents about the current recycling service being offered by a private firm.

“They are a waste and their costs keep going up while service keeps going down. They are sporadic with who and how they pick up, and often times they bypass residents,” Zito said.

She suggested that Howell end the contract and consider doing the recycling work inhouse.

Zito offered many suggestions, however, the one that seemed most palatable to township officials and employees was her suggestion for all municipal employees to forfeit two weeks of pay.

“Instead of furloughs, if the entire township gave up two weeks of pay, that would result in a savings of $708,593,” Zito said.

In closing, Zito reminded the council members of the dedication and respect for work that each TWU member has. She said TWU members have been working under the terms of a contract that expired on Dec. 31, 2007 and have not had a raise since Jan. 1, 2007.

Schlegel praised Zito for her suggestions. However, the manager said she does not have the authority to make every employee give up two weeks of pay because of stipulations in their contracts. She said in order for that to occur there would have to be a voluntary giveback from all the unions.

Information has indicated thatTWUmembers have been issued the full 12 weeks of furlough, Teamsters Union members are receiving four weeks of furlough, and major department heads are getting two weeks off without pay.

Some people have called the measure unfair and asked how taking time and money away from a person who earns $50,000 a year can be considered equitable to taking time and money away from a person who earns $100,000 a year.

Schlegel said no one was looked at on an individual basis and said the money to be saved from each employee’s furlough is equitable.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t look at each employee on an individual basis. I had to look at the global scale and what would be the most efficient,” Schlegel said.

She said the situation was not a simple matter and said she had to consider how the furloughs would effect the operations of the township.

“Is this equitable in time off? No. Is this equitable in money? Pretty darn close. The numbers are the numbers [and] that’s just the way it is,” the manager said.

Schlegel said the TWU members did not receive the total burden of the furlough plan.

“We shared it across the board with everyone,” she said.