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Union wants mandatory overtime eliminated
05/09/2008 08:02:16
By The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD - The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is pushing to eliminate mandatory overtime. Union leaders say the overtime has been forced on state workers because of significant cutbacks in the number of employees. Those who can't pick up the required overtime shifts are disciplined. Union spokesman Anders Lindall says it is purely a matter of state agencies not having enough staff to operate prisons, veterans homes and mental health and developmental centers.
Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman Derek Schnapp says overtime is a fact of life in prisons and can't be attributed to staffing issues. However, he also says the department has requested additional employees for next year's budget. AFSCME is also backing legislation to ban forced overtime except in emergency situations.
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