The proposed budget for fiscal year 2012 includes $750,000 set aside to fill 18 vacant city jobs
SPRINGFIELD – The city has significantly reduced the number of planned layoffs in Springfield by eliminating more vacant positions and with the help of one labor union agreeing to take 24 unpaid furlough days.
The city is laying off 13.5 employee positions, as compared to 33.5 layoffs planned just a month ago. The reduction was revealed during a meeting of the City Council Finance Committee on Friday at City Hall.
One union, the Springfield Public Building Tradesmen Association, representing 37 tradesmen who work in the schools and other city buildings, agreed to take the 24-day furlough, spread over the next 12 months. The negotiated agreement saves five of its members’ jobs who were threatened with layoffs, association President Daniel Lukasik said Friday.
The tradesmen are the only unionized employees who have agreed to a furlough. In addition, they have agreed to defer a 2 percent pay raise for one year, delaying it from July 1, to June 30, 2012.
Some of the tradesmen are unhappy, but the consensus was to sacrifice pay for the sake of jobs, Lukasik said. The tradesmen are responsible for building maintenance and repairs such as plumbing, electrical, carpentry and sheet metal work.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno previously announced that approximately 350 non-bargaining employees must take 12 unpaid furlough days in fiscal year 2012 along with a wage freeze. Sarno would be among those taking the furloughs and wage freeze.
Michael FentonNegotiations occurred with the unions but there was little conceded beyond the major concession from the tradesmen, according to Finance and Collective Bargaining officials.
Finance Committee Chairman Michael A. Fenton said he is concerned that the layoffs and the number of unfilled vacancies among city departments is not fairly distributed.
While some city departments face no layoffs and their unions did not agree to any concessions, others have multiple layoffs and unfilled vacancies, Fenton said.
Fenton said he is also concerned that the proposed city budget still provides full funding, of $785,000 for 18 vacant positions, with the mayor’s intention of allowing those vacancies to be filled.
The layoffs save the city approximately $418,000, suggesting jobs could be saved by cutting funds for more of the vacant positions.
Councilor Kateri B. Walsh also attended the meeting and questioned the decision to fund 18 vacancies.