2009 Scott Walker tried to reduce work hours for union members

[The Straight Story]

This case arises out of the unilateral attempt by Milwaukee County
Executive Scott Walker to save Milwaukee County money by reducing work-week
hours of employees in “those departments under my direction” with the exception
of those “working in direct patient care or correctional/detention staff.”1

According to Walker’s order, signed May 14, 2009, and denominated “Reduced
Workweek – 2009” (uppercasing omitted), Walker determined that there was a
“fiscal crisis due to a projected $14.9 million deficit in the 2009 budget” for
Milwaukee County, and that it was thus “imperative that urgent emergency action
be taken to reduce expenditures for 2009 within the remainder of the budget year.”

The order directed department heads to “schedule the employees who report to
them to temporarily work 5 hours less each week commencing June 28, 2009
during the course of this fiscal emergency.” The order recited that it was to
“remain in full force and effect until further order of the Milwaukee County
Executive.”

...

In that part of
the form asking “What happened to cause your Grievance?,” the hand-printed
entry reads: “On or about 5-14-09, County Executive Scott Walker notified
bargaining unit members that effective 6-28-09, he was temporarily reducing
certain employee’s workweek to 35 hours. This unilateral action by the
county executive is in violation of the contract, county ordinances, civil service
rules, the Municipal Employment Relations Act, and past practices.”
(Uppercasing omitted.) In a place on the form for “Signature of Grievant” are the
handwritten names “David Eisner” and “Kurt Zwicker.” None of the parties tell
us in their appellate briefs who “Kurt Zwicker” is.

http://www.wicourts.gov/ca/opinion/DisplayDocument.pdf?content=pdf&seqNo=57990