(Host) A veteran state senator says Vermont could save state jobs by reducing the number of hours that public employees work.
The head of the Vermont state employees union says he needs much more detail about the scale of the potential cuts, as well as the alternatives.
VPR’s John Dillon reports:
(Dillon) Lawmakers are trying to trim the state budget because of a $37 million drop in revenues.
And the Douglas Administration says the potential cuts are so large that some state jobs likely will be eliminated.
But Essex Orleans Republican Vince Illuzzi has a counter-proposal. He says the state and its employees could agree to reduce the work week from 40 to 32 hours.
(Illuzzi) "Now that’s much less draconian than telling someone who has a family and a mortgage and financial obligations and a house to maintain or otherwise that you’re simply out of work."
(Dillon) Illuzzi says the state employees’ contract prohibits the administration or the workers from proposing a change in the work week. So he said he’ll introduce legislation in January.
(Illuzzi) "No one wants to have anybody get fired, laid off, what’s the difference. No one wants to eliminate essential programs that many needy Vermonters need. I see this as a way to have the state essentially treat its employees as the large family that it really is."
(Host) Jes Kraus is executive director of the Vermont State Employees Association. He said he wants to learn more about Illuzzi’s plan.
(Kraus) "I’m certainly open to any creative proposals. I certainly applaud legislators for thinking creatively in ways to preserve public services to Vermonters, and particularly. By the same token I really can’t comment intelligently on a proposal until I see what it entails and what is suggested."
(Dillon) Kraus says the cuts under consideration will affect not just state workers, but also will hurt people who need help the most. He’s concerned that the decision to cut the budget is being made too quickly, without an opportunity for full review.
(Kraus) "Don’t forget that state employees provide services to some of Vermont’s neediest populations. And those populations are already hurting. And when we’re talking about that level of pain to Vermonters that it’s a decision that the full legislature should have opportunity to weigh in on."
(Dillon) Governor Jim Douglas says the state employees contract would have to be changed to reduce the number of hours that the people work.
He says his administration is looking at cutting hours for administration officials not covered by the contract.
For VPR News, I’m John Dillon.