12/21/16
by News Department on 12/21/16Over 500 employees laid off...
Hundreds of state employees caught in an unemployment compensation program funding dispute between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration and Senate Republicans spent their last day on the job Monday before they qualify for jobless benefits themselves.
Officials said there were no signs of a last-minute reprieve that could help about 520 people avoid being laid off less than a week before Christmas from the state Department of Labor and Industry’s unemployment compensation call centers.
Wolf’s administration is cutting jobs and closing unemployment compensation call centers in Allentown, Altoona and Lancaster without the $58 million from unemployment compensation tax revenue it said is necessary to maintain the centers at current staff levels.
Senate Republicans wrapped up the chamber’s legislative business without voting on the funding bill sought by Wolf, saying they were unsatisfied with Wolf’s answers on how the money would be used.
Senate Republicans have not committed to approve funding when they return to the Capitol next month.
