The office of Iowa Governor Culver and AFSCME Council 61, representing 20,000 state employees, announced Monday that an agreement had been reached which will save the state over $26 million, and retain about 450 threatened jobs. The agreement, which must still be ratified by union members, postpones a deferred compensation program, and requires all 20,000 members to take five unpaid furlough days this year. However, the governor's office remains in talks with two other unions, and 500 jobs are still at risk for those not covered by the AFSCME contract. If AFSCME members reject the contract, layoffs among Council 61 will be reopened.
See "Iowa gov., union reach deal to save state jobs", Mike Glover, Chicago Tribune, November 8, 2009