AFL-CIO Employees Give Up Two Days' Pay to Avoid Layoffs

[Judi Lynn]

AFL-CIO Employees Give Up Two Days' Pay to Avoid Layoffs
By Leigh Strope The Associated Press
Published: Nov 29, 2003




WASHINGTON (AP) - Even workers at labor unions aren't immune to a poor job market.
About 200 workers at the AFL-CIO are taking two days of unpaid leave to avoid layoffs. The budget crunch comes as the labor federation plans to mobilize its largest-ever political campaign.

Dubbed "solidarity days," the days off were agreed to this past summer in contract negotiations between managers and the union representing about 200 workers at the AFL-CIO, an umbrella organization of 64 international unions. Managers also have agreed to take the unpaid time.

Lane Windham, an AFL-CIO spokeswoman, said employees covered by the Newspaper Guild Local 32035 decided they would rather lose pay for two days than face layoffs caused by a "budget crunch." The employees can take the days off anytime in the current fiscal year.

Other belt-tightening measures are being taken in response to a dismal economy that slammed many unions with layoffs, and in an effort to launch a "do-or-die" election push next year to defeat a cash-flush President Bush. (snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA25RQALND.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. How much money will be saved if CEO's take a voluntary

cut in pay?