City of Albuquerque and union workers fight over furloughs

From KOB-TV.com - By: Eddie Garcia, KOB Eyewitness News - Some city union employees were given a letter Wednesday informing them furlough days were coming and more than 1,000 union members can expect the same news soon. Union leaders say the city is implementing furloughs out of retaliation. The city said the union did it to themselves. The issue recently came before a judge, who ruled the city and the union have to abide by their 2011 contract, which includes furloughs for union employees in exchange for a smaller pay cut, until they can hammer out a new contract. "They're the one's that bargained for furlough days last year in lieu of receiving a one percent pay cut," said Albuquerque Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry. The fiscal 2011 union contract expired in June and negotiations for a new one became contentious to the point the union sued the city and won. The judge ruled the old contract "evergreen" until a new one could be made. The city says it's just abiding by the old contract as the judge instructed and delivering furloughs to workers. The union says that's a misinterpretation of the judge's decision. Read more

City of Albuquerque and union workers fight over furloughs