The federal ruling that upended Prince George’s County’s ability to furlough its employees has a “limited relevance” to Montgomery County, according to a senior county attorney.
County Council Senior Legislative Attorney Michael Faden told County Council members in a memo that the county has “a contractual right to furlough” employees as part of its agreements with labor unions, unlike Prince George’s County. But he added that more analysis was needed to determine just how bad the county’s finances had to be before a court or labor relations administrator would look favorably at furloughs.
A federal judge ruled earlier this month that Prince George’s County had broken its contract with labor unions when it furloughed employees for 10 days last year.– Alan Suderman
