DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa is no longer negotiating with one state employees union about concessions to avoid layoffs, aides to Gov. Chet Culver said Monday.
Culver spokeswoman Erin Seidler said talks have been halted with Iowa United Professionals, one of the state's three unions. The union represents about 2,700 workers, most of whom are social workers in the Department of Human Services.
Seidler said negotiations continue with the State Police Officers Council, which represents about 600 troopers and other state officers. Leaders of the largest state workers union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, have already agreed to pay and benefit cuts.
A telephone message left with Iowa United Professionals spokesman Greg Cross was not immediately returned.
"We're still talking to SPOC," Seidler said. "It is our intention to have a decision reached on SPOC and AFSCME before Thanksgiving."
A decision on the number of layoffs needed to bail out the state's budget is expected by Dec. 1, Culver spokesman Troy Price said. Even if the unions agree to concessions, all sides have conceded some layoffs are unavoidable.
AFSCME, which represents 20,000 workers, will vote from Thursday through Nov. 25 on concessions negotiated by its leaders.
About 9,000 dues-paying members are eligible to vote. They'll consider a plan designed to reduce layoffs by having workers take five unpaid furlough days and letting the state suspend contributions to workers' deferred compensation program a government employee system similar to private programs such as a 401(k).
AFSCME Council 61 president Danny Homan said the furloughs would save the state about $22.7 million and suspension of the deferred compensation contribution would reduce costs by another $3.7 million. Workers could still contribute their portion toward the deferred compensation program.
Homan has said the concessions would save 479 AFSCME jobs. But they still leave the state a long way from solving its budget problem.
When Culver announced a 10 percent budget cut in response to plunging tax revenues, officials estimated nearly 800 workers would lose their jobs and 500 vacant positions would be eliminated.
The cut ordered by Culver applies only to the executive branch of state government, but other departments also will be hit.
Judicial branch leaders announced last week they were laying off 105 people, reducing work hours for another 58 and eliminating 100 vacant positions.
Legislative leaders have announced they will shorten next year's scheduled 100-day session to 80 days to save money.
"We're going to try to get done early to save the taxpayers some money," said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs. "We really do intend for it to be an 80-day session."
It costs roughly $60,000 a day to keep the Legislature in session.
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
