Lansing: Concessions sought from corrections union

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The Office of the State Employer is seeking $95 million in concessions from the state's 7,700 unionized corrections workers, union officials said. The amount requested from the Michigan Corrections Organization represents more than half of the $180 million in concessions Gov. Rick Snyder wants from state employees in the budget year that starts Oct. 1, The Lansing State Journal reported Monday. The union's members make up about 16 percent of the state's work force, but are being asked to make 53 percent of concessions. Michigan Corrections Organization executive director Mel Grieshaber criticized the state's actions. "We are in sticker shock right now," he told the newspaper. "It's not fair. Our membership is angry about it. . . . It's very offensive. You won't find a more dangerous job in state government." Kurt Weiss, spokesman for the Office of the State Employer, said the number reflects the fact that the Department of Corrections is the only major state department in which employees are solely funded by the general fund, where Snyder is looking for savings to deal with a projected $1.4 billion shortfall. Corrections accounts for roughly half of all general fund employee costs. Grieshaber said he hoped the $95 million included savings the state could see from turning over services such as food preparation to a private company. But Weiss said operational savings are separate from employee concessions. The state agency notified other employee bargaining units late last week of concessions targets, but Weiss declined to release those numbers. He said administration officials might have to consider other options, such as layoffs, if they can't get the savings they want through pay and benefit concessions from state workers. Published: Wed, Apr 27, 2011