Thursday,
March 21, 2002
AN
OPEN LETTER: REGISTER IANNELLA CALLS UPON THE NEARLY 150
JUDGES WHO DECLINED TO JOIN RANK-AND-FILE COURT WORKERS IN A
FURLOUGH PROGRAM TO RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION:
Dear
Judge,
I
write to you today to ask you to reconsider your recent
decision to decline participation in the Trial Court’s
employee furlough program.
As
you are aware, employees at all levels have come together to
address the court budget shortfall, with eight payless
workdays among the many proposals that were enacted. Some
consider the furloughs to be a band-aid approach to the budget
crisis, but with so many employees stepping forward in a
display of concern and solidarity, massive layoffs were
averted.
Nearly
200 rank-and-file employees, however – those who prepare
your paperwork, maintain order and security in the courtroom,
and keep our courthouses clean – did receive pink slips last
month. Perhaps one or more of them worked with you in your
division. It isn’t hard to imagine how these people feel, or
how they now perceive those who could have helped but
didn’t, as nearly 40% of Trial Court judges did not opt into
the program.
It’s
still not too late, and for every judge who now agrees to the
furlough, a job can be restored. Your agreement to a pay cut
can still do immeasurable good for court morale by displaying
leadership, empathy and solidarity with your fellow court
employees. It can even put some good people back to work.
Very
Truly Yours,
Richard
Iannella, Register
(This
letter was personally sent to each of the judges declining to
participate in the Trial Court's furlough program.)
