On July 12^th,FOSCEP was notified by the Governor’s Office of Administration (OA) that they are giving the unions the required 30-day notificationthat there are going to be furloughs.

There are media reports that budget deal is done and just needs the Governor’s signature, which is expected to happen over the weekend.

State government employees apparently can breathe easy as far as preparing themselves for the possibility of a late state budget and how it affects them.  Gov. Ed Rendell said this week that there will not be any budget-impasse related furloughs this year. And last year, the state Supreme Court ruled that state employees’ paychecks can’t be withheld if the workers put in their time at their job.

This email was written by Beth Bisbano, a librarian at the State Library and FOSCEP’s Vice President for the State Library bloc.  Please take a moment to consider Beth’s request.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has overturned a key Rendell administration assumption about running state government during a budget impasse.

HARRISBURG -- Because state officials' progress toward fashioning a new state budget continues to crawl at a snail's pace, Gov. Ed Rendell said today he may change his mind and push for a temporary or "stopgap" budget.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on September 16 in Pittsburgh concerning the law suit filed by FOSCEP, AFSCME and PSSU over the Commonwealth’s tactics during a budget impasse.

Harrisburg, PA – 7 Pennsylvania unions have joined together to form a coalition against payless paydays. 

AFTPA president Ted Kirsch called the Philadelphia Inquirer's editorial board's suggestion that it reduce the multiplier used to calcuate pensions ridiculous.