Reducing town employees' holidays must be negotiated
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

It appears another idea for change, brought forth by Supervisor Satish Mohan, will be stalled by logistics.

During the Jan. 7 reorganizational meeting, Mohan proposed that the Town of Amherst reduce its holiday time from 14 to 10 days. But the Personnel Department said it won't happen without contract negotiations.

Not all town employees have 14 days off.

"The vast majority of employees' holidays would have to be negotiated. Each contract lists the holidays that are observed," said personnel director Bob McCarthy.

He estimated that of the nearly 700 employees in the town, only 35 are exempt - meaning they aren't under contract. That is mainly department heads.

"Can you run a town with 35 people? That was one of the issues raised," McCarthy said.

His example was at Town Court where there may be only two exempt employees and 20 to 25 unionized employees who won't be scheduled to work. The court obviously wouldn't be able to function, he said.

McCarthy surveyed surrounding municipalities and found two had 12 days, three had 13 days and three had 14 days. In Cheektowaga, town employees receive 15 holidays - including the employee's birthday and a floating holiday.

"We didn't come out looking too unusual," he said.

In order to make any changes the town would have to wait for a contract to expire and negotiate the change in the new one.

McCarthy said negotiations have included less personal, sick and vacation time but never holidays.

"Never before have we addressed holidays. They are based off the federal model," he said. "Everyone wants immediate fixes, but it doesn't work that way."

The private sector follows a schedule of six major holidays - New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Amherst town government is also closed on six other days - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Good Friday, Columbus Day, Election Day, and Veterans Day.

Through the Central Fire Alarm Office Association and the Amherst Police Club contract, employees have Lincoln's Birthday off.

Also, employees represented by CSEA, Amherst Highway Employees Association and exempt employees receive the day after Thanksgiving off.

A poll taken on The Amherst Bee's Web site showed that 66 percent of voters wanted the holidays cut to 10.