AFSCME crew spends furlough day cleaning up river trash

For some public sector union members, a furlough day is a chance to serve the public another way. Facing a severe revenue shortfall, Oregon’s state agencies have declared “furlough” days, shutting offices and sending workers home under strict orders not to work. But nothing prevents unions from rallying members for community service projects. Thus far, members of Oregon AFSCME have used furlough days to plant native plants in Tualatin, assemble science kits for a Portland after-school group, remove invasive plants along Rinearson Creek in Gladstone, and prepare food at a Eugene soup kitchen.

On June 18, about a dozen AFSCME members used a furlough day to partner with Willamette Riverkeepers fishing trash out of the river at Cathedral Park under the St. Johns Bridge in Portland.

“A group of us wanted to be able to continue to provide public service on the days we’re not getting paid to provide public service,” said Karen Williams, water quality analyst and union steward at AFSCME Local 3336. “We understand that we are part of the solution for balancing the state’s budget, but we hope people make the connection that a loss in revenue equates to a loss in service.”

As many as 14 furlough days have been scheduled between September 2009 and June 2011.