Governor Culver announces budget cut plans.
Governor Culver has delivered a sort of ultimatum to unionized workers in the Departments of Corrections and Public Safety: agree to pay reductions or hundreds of employees in those departments will be laid off.
“We’re talking about keeping the roads safe. We’re talking about keeping the general public safe with those correctional officers in our prisons,” Culver said during a news conference this afternoon. “…I’m hopeful that we can find an alternative to laying off hundreds of those essential workers.”
Culver also today ordered over 3000 workers in the executive branch of state government who are not covered by a union contract to take seven days off, without pay, over the next eight months.
Culver held a news conference at the statehouse Wednesday afternoon to announce his decisions on a variety of budget-cutting fronts. But the focus was Culver’s push to reopen the contracts that three state unions have negotiated for the current year, a process that might yield reductions in pay or other benefits.
“The last thing we want to do during a recession is lay more people off. If you talk to any economist, they will tell you that that will only contribute to your economic downturn,” Culver said. “So the idea of allowing people to have a job, to have benefits like health insurance is critically important, especially during a recession.”
Culver refused to discuss what specific concessions he is seeking, only speaking in general terms. “What we are trying to do is two things. Number one: protect essential public safety services,” Culver said. “Keep as many troopers on the road, keep as many correctional officers on the front lines at our correctinal facilities and to avoid unnecessary layoffs…that could contribute to this economic challenge for our state.”
Danny Homan, president of AFSCME Council 61 — the union that represents the largest share of state workers, issued a written statement, saying the union has agreed to “meet with the Governor to begin holding discussions for the sole purpose of reducing layoffs.” Homan said he is “unsure where the talks will lead,” and can’t say much more about the private negotiations.
Culver, too, was reluctant to discuss details. “I have committed to each union that all negotiations will be done in private and not discussed with the media until we have an agreement — or not,” Culver said in an opening statement. “My preference is to resolve this issue through negotiations that allow all state employees to contribute to a solution to our budget challenge.”
Culver has set Friday, November 6 as the deadline for the leaders of the three unions to make a decision on their current contracts which outline pay, benefits and other on-the-job issues.
In answer to a reporter’s question, Culver closed his news conference with a direct appeal to unionized state workers: “What I’ve asked is that they join us in getting through a very difficult time for our state. I’ve respectfully asked every state employee in the executive branch — nearly 20,000 people — to help us solve this challenge.”
Culver ordered a 10 percent, across-the-board cut in the executive branch of state government earlier this month. Last week, state agency directors submitted plans which called for laying off nearly 800 state workers. Two-thirds of the proposed layoffs came in the Department of Corrections.
Culver has approved most of the plans for other state agencies, but indicated he intends to ensure some cuts are restored for programs that help poor and elderly Iowans. The governor today approved plans that will lead to layoff notices for about 180 state workers.
(This story was updated with additional information at 4:50 p.m. and again at 5:09 p.m.)
Read more about Culver’s news conference.
