Know Your Rights: RIFs and Furloughs
As the state conducts furloughs, reductions in force (RIFs), and other personnel actions, it’s important that you know your rights. Be sure to rely on a union that has decades of experience and success representing state employees.
If you’re a member and have recently been subject to personnel actions such as RIFs or furloughs, you should contact AFSCME immediately at (602) 252-6501. There are steps you can take to challenge the action, but you only have a specific amount of time to act. There are deadlines for submitting appeals, and you may lose the opportunity to exercise your rights if you don’t take immediate action.
While AFSCME supports efforts to protect state employees, you must pursue all available remedies before going to the courts. If you don’t, you may lose your ability to challenge the personnel actions. Going to court may ultimately be necessary, but it’s not the right first step, particularly if it jeopardizes your appeal rights.
What to Do
- Carefully and thoroughly read the letter notifying you of your termination. It should indicate your rights and your deadlines.
- Immediately contact us at (602) 252-6501 or info [at] azafscme [dot] org. Don’t wait until your deadline, which should be indicated in your RIF or furlough notification, is coming up or has passed before contacting us.
- Immediately request to see your personnel file; in particular, ask for copies of your PASE evaluations and the RIF or furlough calculations.
AFSCME is experienced in representing state employees and knows your rights. Make sure you contact us right away, even if you think you know all your rights. We’ll make sure that your challenge is as effective as possible.