AP Survey: Alabama lawmakers undecided on allowing state agencies to furlough workers

AP Survey: Ala. lawmakers undecided on furloughs

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama legislators are divided and many are undecided about a proposed plan to allow state agencies to give employees unpaid leave to avoid layoffs during tough economic times.

The state Personnel Department adopted a policy last year that would allow state agencies to furlough employees for up to 24 days a year to reduce payroll costs. A legislative panel rejected the furlough plan, which is opposed by the state employees’ union, but the final decision will be up to the full Legislature during the 2010 session that begins Tuesday.

An Associated Press survey of legislators found many lawmakers undecided on the issue. Supporting the furlough plan were 32 percent of House members responding to the survey, while 25 percent opposed it and 43 percent were undecided. In the Senate, 28 percent said they support furloughs, while 21 percent were opposed and 52 percent were undecided. Responding to the survey were 83 percent of senators and 71 percent of House members.

With the recession causing budget cuts, some state agencies are expected to have to layoff employees to save money.

The general counsel for the Personnel Department, Alice Ann Byrne, said furloughs would allow agencies to save money on payroll without workers losing their jobs.

“It would save jobs and that to us is the key,” she said.

But the Alabama State Employees Association opposes the furloughs and says the policy would be a way of asking state workers to take pay cuts.

The association’s executive director, Mac McArthur, said the plan would also be unfair because it would apply to career state employees but exclude workers who got their jobs through political appointments. He said he would be willing to consider a voluntary furlough plan.

“What we are committed to is protecting the benefits and pay of state employees,” McArthur said.

State Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, the Republican leader in the House, said furloughs seem like the best option when an agency is dealing with budget cuts.

“A furlough would be better than laying people off,” Hubbard said.

But state Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgomery, said he feared furloughs would not be administered fairly to all employees.

Holmes said he wants the governor to eliminate unneeded outside contracts by state agencies.

“If we did that I think we would have enough money not to layoff anybody and not to furlough anybody,” Holmes said.