Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Another sign of a changing government worker landscape

State workers losing right to appeal layoffs

PIERRE -- South Dakota state employees are losing their right to appeal if they're laid off in the future.

The Argus Leader reports that the Legislature's Rules and Review Committee voted 3-2 Tuesday to make the change that takes effect Aug. 1. It affects more than 6,000 state workers who fall under civil service rules.

Bureau of Personnel officials who drafted the rule change say it's needed to avoid having a judge overrule the agency or the Legislature. For example, if lawmakers voted to cut financial support for a program and an employee was laid off as a result, a judge or the Career Services Commission could overrule the layoff.

Opponents argue the appeals process is needed to guard against a wholesale firing of employees when a new administration takes office.


Government workers want to be immune from economic cycles.



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