DC Council to Vote on Restoring Fairness for City Workers
Monday, June 4, 2012
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)With three big items affecting city workers on the DC City Council agenda, a
strong showing of labor leaders and union members is expected at tomorrow’s
legislative session. The DC City council is expected to vote to repay
government workers for four unnecessary unpaid furlough days in 2011 and restore
annual leave carry-over and healthcare contributions to previous levels.
“This is a matter of simple justice,” said Metro Council President Jos
Williams. “City workers have been forced to bear an unfair share of the
financial burden and these votes will restore a measure of balance and
equity.” Until recently, DC city employees were permitted to carry over 240
hours of annual leave, but the Council voted last year to limit the carry-over
to 160 hours, forcing workers to take their leave – often leaving departments
short-staffed – or lose it. The Council also increased employee
healthcare contributions to 28%, effectively a 3% wage cut; the Council will
vote tomorrow to restore the employee contribution to 25%.
- Alya Solomon; photo: DC teachers and firefighters
rally against budget cuts in April; photo by Julia Kann