[Comm-Council] News Release: 'Next state closure day happens on Friday, August 20'

[HOKLIN Lonn * DO PA]

Oregon Department of Administrative Services

155 Cottage Street NE, U20 Salem, Oregon 97301-3966

News Release

For Immediate Release

Aug. 11, 2010

 

Contact:    Lonn Hoklin, Public Affairs Manager, DAS

      503-378-2627

      lonn.hoklin at state.or.us

 

Next state closure day happens on Friday, August 20

State workers take unpaid day-off to save taxpayers about $2 million

 

Salem - Because of budget reductions for state agencies, most state
offices will close on Friday, August 20, and 26,500 state employees will
take mandatory unpaid furloughs on that day, the Oregon Department of
Administrative Services (DAS) announced Wednesday.

 

The closure on August 20 is the sixth of 10 closure dates the state has
scheduled over the current two-year budget period. Each day of closure
will save an estimated $2 million in personnel costs, said DAS Director
Scott Harra. While the closures affect both management and
non-management employees, many state workers will take up to four
additional days of unpaid furlough on a floating basis over the
remainder of the biennium. 

 

"We apologize for any inconvenience these closures might cause to the
public, and we look forward to restoration of a full work schedule for
all state agencies when the economy returns to its normal strength,"
said DAS Director Scott Harra. 

 

State agencies will do everything possible to minimize any hardship the
closures might cause, Harra added. Customers can still do business with
DMV and some other state agencies online, even though the offices are
closed. Harra encouraged the public to check agencies' websites to find
out whether online transactions are possible on the closure day.

 

Some workers will stay on the job

Harra emphasized that certain state employees who provide essential
services in public safety will remain on the job as usual-State Police
officers, corrections officers and certain state hospital workers, for
example.

 

Unions, state negotiated which days to close

Last summer, the state's management team and the unions that represent
state workers negotiated an agreement that specifies which days to
designate as closure days. The negotiators took into account the need to
minimize public inconvenience while keeping critical operations open and
functioning.

 

State websites offer information on closures

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services has published
information about Friday's closure and furloughs on the state's website
(www.Oregon.gov <http://www.oregon.gov/> ), along with a schedule of the
remaining closure days. Members of the public can also find out which
state offices will remain open on the closure days.  Harra urged the
public to check individual agencies' websites for additional
information.

 

The state has scheduled the following dates as closure days with
mandatory unpaid furloughs (all are Fridays):

 

October 16, 2009

November 27, 2009

March 19, 2010

April 16, 2010

June 18, 2010

August 20, 2010

September 17, 2010

November 26, 2010

March 18, 2011

May 20, 2011

 

 

-30-

 

 

Lonn Hoklin

Public Affairs Manager

Oregon Department of Administrative Services

503-378-2627

503-428-2169 (cell)

Data Classification: Level 1-Published

 

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