 |
| SEIU rallies to oppose furloughs |
On
Thursday, I broke the story that NorCo Exec Lamont McClure had sent a required 30-day furlough notice to SEIU, the union that represents about 175 caseworkers in the county's human services department. Although McClure called the furlough an "option of last resort," he made clear that he would refuse to borrow money or invade the rainy-day fund. Unless the gridlock over the state budget is overcome, it's pretty clear that is what he intends to do. He has already stopped paying vendors who provide human services to the county in various different programs. SEIU responded to the furlough notice by holding a noon news conference on Friday at the Human Services Building in Bethlehem Tp. I received no notice myself, but found out accidentally, and decided to cycle down and cover it. I was astonished to see that Controller Tara Zrinski, who is running for County Executive with McClure's support, has split sharply with him over this issue. She is adamantly opposed to any type of layoff. So is nearly everyone else. Like me, GOP Exec candidate Tom Giovanni was likely excluded from the union's invitation list. But he agrees with Tara. So does Council President Lori Vargo Heffner. I was unable to contact all nine members of Council or those running for the position, but with the exception of Ken Kraft, everyone I spoke to is opposed to any kind of furlough. (I have included statements from them below).
 |
| Ce-Ce Gerlach |
Most of the 150 or so people at this rally on a balmy Friday afternoon were caseworkers. But I was surprised to see a few other politicians at this event as well. They included Ce-Ce Gerlach, who is running for State Rep in Allentown. She was placed on ARD after taking a minor to a homeless encampment and dumping him off there. Congressional hopeful Mark Pinsley was also there, trying to score a few points with caseworkers he attempted to alienate last year with spurious claims that they were unnecessarily separating children from their families. Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana showed up after it was over, but she later shot a Facebook Live to summarize what had happened at an event she missed. She also was placed on ARD for assaulting her adult son.
Kizzie Johnson, SEIU's shop steward, said the very first question that caseworkers had after hearing of the impending layoffs is, "What about our clients?"
Of aging adults, she asked "Who's going to go to their houses and make that they're safe and that they're being protected? We have drug and alcohol clients, we have clients that have mental health disturbances.
Who is going to be providing them with the services?
We have early intervention.
We have babies that we take care of , children from the age of zero to 18, that are in foster care.
Who is going to make sure that they are stable?
Who's going to make sure that they are safe?
Who's going to make sure that when bad things are happening to them, they have somebody to reach out to?
If we're all gone, who is going to help?"
The big surprise was Controller Tara Zrinski. I suspected this might be a breaking point between her and McClure. He has not only contributed from his own warchest to her Exec race but has helped her get a great deal of financial support from the trade unions. I expected mild disagreement, but she provided a forceful denunciation of McClure's planned furlough, even to the point of ridiculing his logic.
Here's what she said:
 |
| Tara Zrinski |
As Northampton County Controller, I see where every county dollar goes.
The current situation is real, our Q3 projections narrowly fulfill our budget
obligations and in Q4, our projections are $19,412,000 which we will not meet
at all without the state funding for human services. This is a double
whammy from the State and Federal Government at this point and I know
the blame lies squarely on the Republicans who are obstructing the
passage of the budget at both levels of government, but, we cannot sit idly
by when there are other options besides.
The burden of political gridlock should not rest on the shoulders of the very
people who are the backbone of our community—caseworkers protecting
children from abuse, crisis workers responding to mental health
emergencies, and staff supporting our aging parents and grandparents.
These jobs are not luxuries. They are lifelines for our community members..
We cannot sit idly by when there are other options.
As a hard-working single mom in this community, I believe deeply in the
dignity of work, the stability of our families, and the responsibility the
government has to protect both. And I know this much: furloughing human
services workers is unnecessary, it is wrong and it will end up costing us far
more in the end.
We should not punish workers because Harrisburg has failed to pass a
budget. The obstruction in the state Senate has real consequences:
children left more vulnerable, seniors left isolated, and workers put in
impossible situations. But the County Executive is not powerless. There are
alternatives that can and should be pursued before we upend people’s
lives.
These are not faceless numbers on a spreadsheet. These are the
caseworkers who protect children from abuse, the crisis workers who
answer mental health emergencies, and the staff who care for our aging
parents and grandparents. They are frontline workers who make our
community safer and stronger. Cutting their paychecks destabilizes not just
their families, but every family in Northampton County.
When we furlough these workers, it’s not just their families who suffer—it’s
the families they serve. What happens when a child in crisis has no
caseworker to answer the call? What happens when a senior with no family
has no one to check in on them? What happens when a neighbor facing a
mental health emergency has no crisis worker to intervene? The truth is,
lives will be put at risk. Interrupting mandated services doesn’t just create
delays or inconvenience—it creates dangerous gaps in protection and care
that can mean the difference between safety and tragedy.
We need to create avenues of mutual aid within the community by calling
on community partners to fill some of the gaps in human services. We have
already delayed funds to service providers but we did not entertain
temporary redistribution of County Funds or a Tax Anticipation Note, which
would allow us to borrow against anticipated property tax revenue. This
TAN would be paid back when the State passes a budget but with
approximately $350,000 - $400,000 of accumulated interest. This has been
the sticking point for the administration that has no desire to bail the State
out because the interest would not be paid back by the State. We cut our
nose off to spite our face though. That interest is a small small price to pay
for the safety of our community and the security of our workforce that
knows we have their backs. Literally, it is an estimated 2 cents for every
$1000 of assessed property value in the County.
Well, here are my 2 cents– County Executive McClure has presented this
as an inevitability. But there is nothing inevitable about abandoning our
workforce. There are alternatives. There are reserves, reallocations, and
other strategies available that don’t involve punishing workers or
jeopardizing public safety. Leadership means problem-solving—not taking
the easy way out by balancing the books on the backs of our workforce.
When we destabilize human services, we invite higher long-term costs,
greater risks, and more pain for the very residents we are sworn to protect.
So today I stand with SEIU 668 workers, and I call on County Executive
McClure: stop these furloughs. Protect the people who protect
Northampton County. And I call on Harrisburg legislators: end the gridlock.
Pass a fair budget now. You are literally arguing over what amounts to 6%
of your overall budget– for what? To lower medicaid, to take away SNAP
benefits. Where are the adults in the room?
This is about more than a budget line. It is about the social contract we
honor when we ask men and women to devote their lives to caring for
others. It is about whether we—the county, the state, and this nation—are
willing to stand up for our workforce when they need us most. We must
stand with them today, I stand with them.—because when they are secure,
our whole community is secure.
Tom Giovanni, Zrinski's opponent in the Executive race, is on the same page as she. Here's a statement he provided.
 |
| Giovanni with his better half. |
“As a candidate for Northampton County Executive, I believe it is unacceptable that the current administration has chosen to cut essential programs and furlough hardworking employees simply because Harrisburg has failed to pass a state budget. Leadership is about preparation, responsibility, and putting people first. Our county should never be held hostage to gridlock in the state capital.Instead of hurting workers to make a political point, I recommended that the administration follow Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s example of providing loans to counties to cover short-term budget needs. That would have protected services and employees while avoiding unnecessary disruption.
The stabilization fund had 16 million dollars in 2024. The current administration took about 9.5 million dollars to balance the 2025 County budget. That fund currently has about 7 million dollars, the minimum amount allowed.I would use some money from the Stabilization Account and take the loan from Treasurer Stacy Garrity to keep our people from being furloughed.
As County Executive, I will ensure that Northampton County operates with stability, accountability, and foresight—no matter the dysfunction in Harrisburg.”
He would both use the stabilization (rainy-day) fund and borrow.
Council President Lori Vargo Heffner is also opposed to the proposed furlough, calling it a betrayal of a pledge that McClure made in August:
 |
| Lori Vargo Heffner |
I was shocked to hear that the current administration Is considering furlough as a method of dealing with the current gridlock in Harrisburg. In August, I spoke with Mr. McClure and Mr Barron regarding concerns about our budget if the state would not be settled soon. They both assured me they had no plan to let go of any employees and that services would need to be addressed first. This weeks’ announcement was not only shocking but an appalling betrayal of our valued employees who devote their time and effort and energy to our most vulnerable citizens. These employees are not people with six figure salaries. These are people who dedicate themselves to the service of others and then go home and take care of their own families' needs. They depend on their paychecks. Most if not all are union members. The suggestion of furlough is not to be tolerated or even entertained until the council is presented with information that shows that we are at such a point that we cannot afford to pay these salaries.
There appears to be a great deal of manipulation in our budget. Recent financial discussions by council have shown that money has been moved and manipulated without our consent several times. I’m sure if we go back to this budget we will be able to find money to address both short term and long-term solutions. We need to hear from the administration immediately to determine what areas are concerning or at risk. I asked last week for Miss Wandaloski to present a list in writing of the deficits that we are facing for the human services committee meeting. If we are in such dire straits that we need to furlough employees, then I would expect to see this list sooner so council can begin to plan to begin to address the deficit that is pending.
Utilization of what’s left in the stabilization fund is a starting point. Additionally, this administration has never been shy about requesting funding or refinancing for our debts or to build new buildings in homage to ourselves. We entertain the idea of a short term loan from a viable source. This does not suggest that I believe we should take advantage of the state treasurer's plan. We have been told innumerable times that we have an excellent bond rating, so we could look into alternative financing to support our employees. I stand by the message that the CCAP Board has put together & council passed in a resolution earlier stating that everyone needs to get back to the table and work to finalize this budget now. I am fed up with the idea that people on both sides of the aisle are using this budget impasse for their own political gain. People’s lives are not toys and this game is becoming dangerous. It’s time to communicate honestly and collaborate to find a reasonable solution.
Council member John Goffredo. NorCo Council's most outspoken conservative, also slammed the furlough. He would use the stabilization fund and borrow as well. He argued that we "have to show some loyalty to the staff." Loquacious Democrat Ron Heckman feels the same way. He would use the stabilization fund and, if necessary, borrow. He noted that "county social services are our fundamental responsibility and condemned the "lack of communication with council" before reaching this decision.
Council candidate Jason Boulette was at the presser and is opposed to the furlough. He would consider a loan and the stabilization fund.
Jon Irons, a Lehigh County Commissioner who refuses to pledge allegiance, said his county has avoided this by taking out a loan.
The only elected official I spoke with who actually agrees with McClure is County Council member Ken Kraft, who only supports unions if they happen to be trade unions. "I would not use the stabilization fund, I would ask that the republicans get off their hands and stop this nonsense and pass a budget already. I believe that if we have no money to perform these functions then we do not perform them. I will not vote to have the county borrow money and pay interest so these republicans can hold the entire state hostage. And NO I will not vote to use the stabilization fund either."
