Maryland Judge Rules Furloughs Unconstitutional

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GREENBELT, Md. - A federal judge in Maryland has ruled the furlough of firefighters, police officers and other public safety workers unconstitutional.

Judge Alexander Williams Jr. has ordered that Prince George's County begin working with the unions on the refund of lost wages.

The furloughs began last fall and required all workers to lose 80-hours pay. A new round of furloughs was scheduled for this fiscal year that began on July 1.

James P. Keary, the Communications Director for Prince George's County, said in a statement Tuesday afternoon called Judge Williams' ruling an "irresponsible decision". Keary said, "To comply with the court's opinion, we will have massive layoffs".

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on August 19, 2009 at 3:00pm

It would seem like a hollow victory if the end result is massive lay offs.
Did the unions attempt to work with the county to reduce the deficit?
I mean; the decision could be precedent for God knows how many city/county/states that have involuntarily furloughed their employees.
However; now that they have to pay these people back, to get the money, they will have to lay some of these same people off.
Weird.
TCSS.
Art

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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on August 20, 2009 at 1:30pm

I mean; the decision could be precedent for God knows how many city/county/states that have involuntarily furloughed their employees.

The determination is really how many other localities have furloughed EMERGENCY workers. This is the issue here, not so much as furloughing office staff, public works, etc, but emergency responders. For the most part when hearing of communities furloughing public workers, the exemption was police and firefighters. You just can't stop such services, hence also the reason such responders can not strike.

In this case, PG County furloughed everyone, including emergency workers, so yes, it is the management fault here and they should be paying back for lost wages. Did the unions help try to reduce deficits? Maybe, maybe not, the problem is not the union, it was the blanket policy from management affecting all workers. Chicago just implented furloughs, except police and fire, why couldn't PG county?

Deficits have affected many communities, but I disagree with the blame being placed on unions. It is easy to point fingers at unions, however, many unions have been giving up concessions over the years and have tried to help in financial problems, only to see management asking for more and more cuts. Sorry, but some point management has to get priorities straight and keep services to taxpayers, not convention centers, not parks or boardwalks and so forth. Many unions have made concessions, yet far too often city leaders just look for more and more and is a reason you see more unions pushing back. Why should union members continually be asked to give up more and more for faulty leadership in many cases?

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on August 20, 2009 at 1:35pm

John:
I asked a question.
I did not place blame.
Contrary to what is popular these days, I do not blame the unions or Obama for everything that is wrong or goes wrong.
I asked if the unions had attempted to sit down with management, because many of the firefighters are represented by the union.
It would seem silly for firefighters to sit down with management without their union head, unless they were simply having cake and coffee.
TCSS.
Art

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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on August 20, 2009 at 2:43pm

You're right, you didn't place blame and I don't know what or if the union attempted to work with management. I apologize if you view my comments as an attack to your comments. I like to give my opinion and in many cases will state them in a general context, even if I started off as a reply to a comment. I mean no offense nor, stating you are blaming unions.

I understand you are or were a chief and considered management, but my comments are geared towards the elected officials who make such blanket decisions, vs doing the job they were elected to do.

PG did furlough everyone whereas other communities didn't, so my opinion is this won't be a huge precident setting decision. Layoffs may or may not happen, and I have no idea what was even discussed, but again this could have been a blanket decision made by PG county and now they may actually have to go back and make some tough decisions.

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on August 20, 2009 at 4:45pm

John:
I didn't take it as an attack. I was merely pointing out that I did not disparage the unions.
My concern is "furlough". I don't know that the judge limited his decision to public safety.
That is my concern for the ruling. Is it just furlough of the public safety entities that he found unconstitutional or furloughs in general. I felt that he meant in general.
I was a chief, but I don't view that as particularly relevant either way.
Now; I am an elected official involved with our fire department.
I don't view that as an advantage or a detriment; just a fact.
I appreciate your honesty and your willingness to share your opinion.
So many here that are members will not discuss issues.
Oh well.
We few...
TCSS.
Art