The Board of Supervisors approved a mandatory furlough program designed to save money and jobs. Human Resources director Sue Paul said that 78 percent of the county workforce has agreed to participate in the furlough, which will run for two work weeks, from 12/22 to 1/4. (Public safety will not be furloughed.) Some county employees, including several in the Public Defender Office, object to the mandatory breaks from work, citing the need to ensure their clients get fair trials.

Sixteen laid-off social services workers begged the Board of Supervisors on 10/21 not to cut their jobs. The Service Employees International Union Local 721, which represents workers who help residents apply for food stamps and Medi-Cal services, said more cuts may be coming. Remaining workers would have a higher caseload, the union argues, and if there are not enough workers to process applicants, the county could be found out of compliance and lose state and federal funding.

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