Secretary of State

Important Information Regarding Furlough Days

SEIU Local 73 and the Secretary of State have reached an agreement in reference to the number of furlough days to be applied as well as how they may be used.

Although the collective bargaining agreement allows for seven furlough days, we successfully negotiated a reduction from seven days down to four days. The way to utilize furlough days presented the biggest problem. All employees work a 37.5 hour work week but not all work the same number of hours per day. Through many discussions it was agreed to separate out facility employees due to the different hours they work per day.

For employees working 7.5 hour work days, they will be able to use furlough days in 7.5 hour full day increments or 3.75 hour half day increments.

For facility employees it has been agreed that with the exception of the 9 hour work day, furlough days will be treated as day for day. In other words, if you take a furlough day on Wednesday, Thrusday, or Friday, which are 8 houor days, you will be credited for one furlough day. You will not be required to return to work for the remaining half hour or be required to use benefit time to cover for that time. If you take a half day on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, then you must return to work for the remaining 4 hours or use benefit time to cover for the 4 hours.

I you take a furlough day on a Saturday, it must be take as a 4.5 hour day and it will be considered as a half day furlough day.

On the 9 hour work day, furloughs can only be taken in increments of 7.5 hours or 3.75 hours. Employees must return to work or use benefit time to cover the difference.

The maximum time docked from all employees will be 30 hours for the 4 furlough days. Two days must be taken prior to January 1, 2009, and the remaining day(s) to be taken prior to July 1, 2009.

This agreement insures that no one in the SEIU Local 73 bargaining unit will be laid off for the fiscal year as long as there are no further cuts to the SOS budget.

For the full letter from the Secretary of State, click here.  Furlough Days

If you have any questions please contact your union representative at the following numbers:
Joe Richert in the Chicago Office -312.787.5868
Karen Kleinhans in the Springfield Office- 217.522.1182
Justus Fortado in the Urbana Office- 217328.7509
Dale Hillier in the Springfield Office- 217.522.1182

Elimination of the Four Day Work Week

    Recently, the Secretary of State took it upon themselves to ignore the Collective Bargaining Agreement and eliminate the four day work week. Upon hearing this, the union took action and advised the Secretary of State that they could not eliminate the schedule and are required to negotiate over any such action. Still, they proceeded and the union filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against them. During the most recent contract negotiations the Secretary of State never proposed changing the four day work week, nor did they open the topic for discussion. This means that the schedule is still in the contract and must be honored.
    Our position is that the four day work week is established by the contract and any employees removed from that schedule are to be returned to it immediately.The Labor Board reviewed our Unfair Labor Practice charge and deferred it to arbitration. The union is currently in the process of scheduling the hearing.

Tamara Browning: Union 'adopts' soldiers in Iraq

From the State Journal Register

Local union members have "adopted" several soldiers in the Illinois National Guard 3637th Maintenance Company who haven't received any packages from home while in Iraq.

Service Employees International Union LOCAL 73 union members have collected donated food and snack items to be shipped to six of 12 soldiers who haven't received packages (six others have been adopted by another group).

The situation pulled at the heartstrings of PAMELA FERNANDEZ-RUBLE, who suggested that the soldiers might not have received anything yet because of families undergoing hardships.

"I just can't imagine being that far away in the war and not receiving anything. It's got to be hard. You see other people getting stuff," said Fernandez-Ruble, who works for the vehicle services department of the Secretary of State's Office.

"It takes my mind back to when my brother (Denny Kendall) was in Vietnam. I didn't have any money (to send him anything). He was one of those poor ones sitting in the corner with no box.

"It's like, 'Oh, we've got to do something. We can't have them sitting over there not getting any goodies.' "

LUAN HINDS-PRICE, who also works in the same department as Fernandez-Ruble, is married to TYRONE PRICE, who is stationed in Iraq and has helped compile a list of soldiers needing packages.

"He told her that there were about 12 soldiers over there that haven't received anything at all since they've been there.

"It's kind of close to us because we know we're doing something for six individuals who have gotten nothing. Maybe they don't have any family members. Maybe they're too poor to ship stuff."

Among the food/snacks donated were popcorn, candy, cookies, hot chocolate, hot teas, crackers, peanut butter, jelly and foods that can be cooked in the microwave. There are also fun items such as puzzles, cards and Christmas decorations. Each box will have a Christmas card signed by all employees of the sixth floor of the Howlett Building. There are approximately 100 employees on the floor.

"He said they don't need stuff that the Army gives them. Most of the guys are missing just the snack foods," Fernandez-Ruble said.

The public is welcome to help with donations (food, snacks, money), which may be delivered for the next couple of weeks at the northwest entrance of the Howlett Building, Second and Edwards streets.

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