State employees are doing needed work

I am writing in response to Connie Cain's article on Tuesday, April 28. Ms. Gilberts feels adamant that a "shared sacrifice from state employees is necessary to properly address the coronavirus crisis." Ms. Gilberts suggests putting pay raises on hold. According to the contract, raises cannot be placed on hold or deferred without violating the contract.

In addition, she states that "under the ASFSME contract, the state has the authority to lay off state workers." Is Ms. Gilberts aware that the ASFME contract covers State Police Officers, Unemployment (IDES), DCFS Workers, those that process state aid, along with many others.

I asked my sister about this as she has worked for the state for 15 years. The union would be involved with the decision to lay off workers and would work with the state to determine if and how many workers would be laid off. Laying off state workers is a process.

Those affected by the pandemic are already getting extra state aid. The result is that the number of requests for state aid has skyrocketed. Many offices are already short-handed, but the workers are doing their best to address the increased case volume. A new worker requires a full year of training in order to become proficient in handling requests for assistance. This is not the type of job that just anyone can do without proper training. Laying off workers as Ms. Gilberts suggested would cause longer delays in responding to requests for assistance.

Is Ms. Gilberts suggesting that the people who need the additional help give up or delay their much-needed benefits due to a shortage of state workers? Is she suggesting that we reduce the number of state police officers? Unemployment officers? DCFS workers?

Dayle Roberts

Lake Zurich