Federal workers feel unease over potential layoffs, furloughs unleashed by ‘fiscal cliff’

[dkf]

As the year-end deadline approaches, federal employees have been told very little by their bosses about how their agencies are preparing to carry out huge spending reductions.

Then came an e-mailed memo on Thursday from agency heads to employees. The cuts would be “significant and harmful to our collective mission.” Furloughs “or other personnel actions” — layoffs — remain a real possibility.


Even if there is no last-minute agreement, Jan. 2 would not be doomsday because some cuts could be put off until later in the fiscal year. Most agencies would continue spending, but with caution, eliminating travel and training programs and slowing or halting hiring. Overtime would be phased out, as would temporary help. Managers may have to decide whom to furlough and for how long.

The Budget and Control Act of 2011 gives agencies 30 days to figure out exactly how they would juggle their finances, down to specific contracts and programs that would be eliminated. Union officials say they would demand bargaining over furloughs and possible layoffs. Unions would also want to bargain over the use of contractors to ensure they’re cut before federal employees.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-workers-feel-unease-over-potential-layoffs-furloughs-unleashed-by-fiscal-cliff/2012/12/24/c63bc3c8-4d63-11e2-8b49-64675006147f_print.html

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Standing up to hostage takers only gets more difficult over time

For 20 years we've been letting the fringe right do virtually whatever they want.

And here we are.

[duffyduff]

2. Make it 30+ years n/t

[bettyellen]

3. I hope a lot of them don't own guns!

[Samantha]

4. The fiscal cliff is allowing the Bush* tax cuts to expire

The automatic spending cuts, sequestration cuts, were agreed to under the negotiation to raise the debt ceiling. Since no agreement could be reached, the spending cuts are to be implemented, barring a last minute agreement on cuts or another agreement to postpone the cuts.

But this whole thing is getting too murky and is misleading. The Bush* tax cuts restore 4 Trillion Dollars over the next ten years. Those cuts were always considered temporary, and Bush* himself set the original date of expiration since the Bush* tax cuts were not paid for when enacted.

So all those cuts in expenditures are necessary because of the drivers of the deficit -- and the Bush* tax cuts are either number one or number 2 in that arena, depending on whose numbers you use. With the increased revenue coming coming into the Treasury, all of those cuts are not necessary. Pass the jobs act on top of letting the Bush* tax cuts expire, and that solves more of the problems.

But to say the fiscal cliff is the reason for the automatic spending cuts is just blurring all of these issues in one fell swoop -- why? Because that makes it easier to blame Obama for the whole mess?

Sam

[Sadiedog]

5. Hmmm, interesting

We have been told to expect the loss of 3 classrooms if sequestration happens. I work as a Head Start teacher and am greatly saddened by this.