HR: Milwaukee County Workweek

An arbitrator's ruling Monday morning (6/29/2009) threw out Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker's shortened workweek for nearly 2,000 union workers. The five hour reduction...

Comment: The union representing Milwaukee County's workers challenged the County Executive's order to reduce costs and budget shortfalls. Playing the "rules are rules" contract language game, the arbitrator's ruling was probably pretty predictable. But here's what's just as easy to predict -- the easily predictable consequence (not unintended) that this will lead at some point to further staff reductions. The union saves hours (and admittedly employee's wages) today -- but sometime in the very near future, more employees will lose their jobs altogether!!!