Employees of the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) are concerned, as are most state employees, about proposed radical changes to the state retirement plan that could radically alter the lives of tens of thousands of state workers.
But for some in the department, there is a greater concern: a Notice of Impending Layoff that went out on Tuesday, April 10.
“In accordance with the requirement of Civil Service Rule 17.12(a), notice is hereby given of an impending layoff to be effective no later than June 30, 2012, in the Louisiana Department of Education,” began the memorandum from State Superintendent John White.
“This layoff is being proposed due to elimination of 58 authorized positions (which includes vacancies) from the Table of Organization and a reduction of state funds in the Operating Budget for FY 2013,” White said.
It is not immediately known how many active employees will be affected, but there were indicates that most of the 58 positions to be abolished were unfilled positions.
“Once the layoff plan has been approved by the Director of Civil Service, it will be made available to you via the LDOE Intranet,” white said.
Employees to be impacted by the reduction in force are scheduled to be notified this week, the memorandum said. “Any questions concerning this matter should be directed to Kim Fitch, Human Resources Director,” it said.
Affected employees, among other things, are required to respond to any relocation offer. Failure to comply will be considered a declination of the offer, White said.
“Once an employee accepts or declines a relocation offer, the decision is final,” he said.
Similar notices have gone out to other agencies in past months, including the Office of Risk Management, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance and the Department of Health and Hospitals.
A similar notice is expected to go out soon to employees of the Office of Group Benefits where about 130 employees are expected to lose their jobs to the privatization of the agency’s Preferred Provider Organization (PPO).
Louisiana Voice 
Now is the time for all good countrymen (state employees) to come to the aid of their country (state). Go to the nearest bobbyjindalrecall.com site nearest you, download the recall form and hit the pavement. If he can lay you off, why not fire him?
I’m not a state employee, but I would sign a recall petition in a heartbeat. This jerk is on an ALEC crusade in order to bolster his credentials to run for president. His ambition would be laughable were it not tragically upending so many lives.
Better read an upcoming bill by Tim Burns. Buried in HB 852 is a nifty, self-serving little item to restrict when citizens can file a recall effort. Yes, Bobby and his pals know all about the growing “throw the bums out!” movements. And in typical fashion, they have a slick plan. I hope you get more coverage for this effort. The provision of the bill I’m talking about restricts filing to recalls to within 9 days of the election of the official in question. Which means Burns’ bill aims to neutralize current efforts! Go read it, and spread the word. These guys are repugnant. And they have the nerve to wrap themselves in the American flag, and talk about freedoms, rights, and the constitution. Yeah, but only if you contribute to them and agree with their views. Otherwise they prefer to shut everyone else up!
Unless I read the bill incorrectly, it does not restrict the time in which a recall election can be initiated; it limits the time in which the subject of a recall may contest the results of a recall election to nine days after after the date of election.
As I read the bill, it would give Jindal nine days in which to contest the results of a recall election after the date of the election.
It appears that the only way to stop Jindal and the totally irresponsible, soul sold, bought-and-paid-for legislature from eviscerating the entire state is to bring suit to stop implementation of every single outrageous law passed and signed into law. Finding a Judge or Judges who themselves still have a shred of decency that will fairly rule as to the intent of the Preamble to the United States Constitution’s to serve the general welfare may be difficult. Some court delayed implementation and ultimate ruling as to the unfairness of the acts may be our only hope of saving our state from this complete and total sellout that is going on. How Jindal and our legislators can be so misguided at best and corrupt at worst mystifies many of us.
I don’t believe Jindal has been misguided. He’s doing exactly what ALEC has told him to do. I could go along just a little bit with legislators being misguided, but they are so spineless and will not stand up to the dictator, known by the press as Gov. Jindal. Also, they don’t want financial support to be taken from them as they pursue their political careers. In the meantime, they are contributing to the loss of finances to the people who, no doubt, many of them, voted them into office. Go figure! Bring on those recalls!
From what I have witnessed, a lot of people want to get these people out of office. The problem is, there is no organization. The only thing state employees can do is sign a recall petition. Also, make sure people sign the petition exactly the way they are suppose to. You would be surprised how many people can’t or don’t follow directions. Someone please get this organized.
Now that teachers don’t have tenure to protect them from exercising their rights as citizens, will signing recall petitition get them fired? I can remember the “old days” before tenure. If a teacher, or state employee, spoke out against a politico, signed a petitition, put a bumper sticker or yard sign….they were fired, no reason needed. With Jindal’s successful attack on tenure, they will be denied the rights enjoyed by other citiizens….or fear for their jobs. When did this state become Russia?
When Jindal was elected… But don’t be afraid, you would be surprised if you knew how many citizens support teachers and want to sign. Once the recall is successful, maybe we can get some legislation stating whoever is removed from a statewide elected office will not receive any retirement benefits from the state.
I’d like to know where to go to sign the recall petition. As a state employee, we are barred from working to get signatures from others, but we can sign. I hope those in charge of the recall will soon get organized enough to announce places in each city where we can go to sign.
We must get creative. Get your spouse, mother, father, brother, sisters, etc. to print the forms and get signatures. Fo to http://WWW.bobbyjindalrecall.com. Make sure that whoever signs is a current registered voter and that they sign their names exactly as they appear on their voter registration cards. Download app at http://www.geauxvote.com.