By Legislators turn down plan to furlough state employees
Montgomery, AL – - The Alabama Legislature has rejected the
state Personnel Board's efforts to create a furlough plan for state
employees.
A policy approved by the Personnel Board last year would have
allowed state agencies to furlough employees for up to 24 days a
year to reduce payroll costs. The Alabama State Employees
Association opposed the plan and the Legislature's regulatory body,
the Legislative Council, voted to block it last year.
The House upheld the council's action on an unrecorded voice
vote Thursday. The Senate had voted to uphold that action on
Tuesday.
The Personnel Board said the furlough plan was a way to avoid
layoffs in a recession. The employees association said it would be
the same as asking workers to take pay cuts.