A letter from the Southwestern Oregon Labor Council specifically request the Board of Commissioners revisit the layoff of 22 road workers, in part as a matter of public safety.
January 6, 2009
Coos County Commissioners
Coos County Courthouse
250 North Baxter
Coquille, Oregon 97423Dear Commissioners:
On January 5, 2009 the Labor Council unanimously voted to urge you to rescind your decision to lay-off 22 Road Department employees. The lay-offs endanger public safety and damage economic development.
Even when the Road Department had 60 workers they could not adequately maintain County Roads. The 14 left will certainly not be able to do this task. The deterioration of County roads will have many negative consequences. It will be difficult and at times impossible for emergency personnel to reach rural homes in a timely manner. Roads that are not maintained will discourage economic development. The lay-off of 22 employees will also hurt the local economy.
The Council is also troubled by the way you made this decision. The lay-offs were not on the Board agenda. The decision was made on New Year’s Eve day without input from the public or workers. No one had an opportunity to comment on this subject because nobody knew it was to be decided. We do not know why the issue of lay-offs could not be postponed until the public received adequate notification and Commissioner Main took office.
The Council believes the Board’s action violated at least the spirit of the Oregon Public Meetings law.
We urge you to reconsider your decision.
Jan Long, sgj
Jan Long
Secretary-Treasurer
Southwestern Oregon Central Labor Council
