2-25-10
Following my letter to the Governor's office and to Secretaries Vito and Dichter, Labor and Industry and the Department of Public Welfare, respectively, a one-time exception has been made to the snow day policy. Non-essential employees under the Governor's jurisdiction who were authorized a consecutive full-day office closing by their agencies on both Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, February 11, 2010 shall not be required to charge leave for the second day. This is a one-time, non-precedent setting exception to Management Directive 530.17.
February 24, 2010
To the Honorable Governor Rendell and Secretaries:
On behalf of the 10,000 state workers that SEIU 668 represents across Pennsylvania, we want to thank the Governor for taking the lead and attempting to protect the lives and safety of the public and our workers by closing offices and roads during the snowstorm February 10 and 11, 2010. I know that your office took some heat from the newspapers on this but it was the right thing to do and every Employer should follow your lead.
While the news made it sound like every state employee had the day (s) off that is not the case. As you know, many of our members work in critical 24-hour facilities; the prisons, mental health and retardation centers, and youth development centers and these members go to work regardless of the weather and get no paid time off as they are critical services. Add to that the state police, road crews and emergency personnel and there were thousands of state workers on the job during this emergency.
With another snow storm on the horizon as early as tonight, I am hearing from my members that management is telling them there will be no more closings. With our clients and members in mind, I would ask that you reconsider that decision. The death or injury to one worker trying to get to work or client trying to get to an office on hazardous roads is too great a risk to take.
In addition, while DPW in Altoona CAO and Armstrong CAO were under emergency mode, the managers decided to open these offices, even though L & I Careerlinks (in some cases directly across the street) were closed. This happened in other areas as well. Many work sites ignored your directive to stay off the roads and endangered the lives of clients and workers (who, due to years of budget cuts are working at the barest of minimums now). Some agencies have policies that were not followed. There was confusion and indecision. Workers in some Careerlinks are now being told to submit leave slips and that no matter how bad the weather is for the remainder of the winter, there will be no closings, late openings or early dismissals even if you, as Governor, tell the citizens to stay off the road.
Again, on behalf of my hard working members everywhere in the state, I ask that you continue to keep us and our clients safe.
Sincerely,
Kathy Jellison, President
SEIU Local 668