Georgia is being forced to pay roughly $8 million dollars to about 4,000 seasonally unemployed workers.
That’s because the U.S. Department of Labor threatened to sue the state over not paying benefits to those people during down-time last year.
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler is disappointed with the federal government.
“Well, I think it’s really unfair that we’re seeing the U.S. Department of Labor come into Georgia and tell us how to interpret out own state law. This is a new trick for them.”
Under his interpretation of a state law, Butler argues certain public school and university employees should not receive these benefits during summer and holiday breaks.
He says that’s because educators and other school workers have never received those benefits during those times.
The General Assembly this year did not pass legislation to deny payments to certain seasonal educational employees. Butler vows to try again.
“Well, we’re hoping to go back and try again to pass this. Several other states have moved forward to prohibit this type of gaming of the system,” says Butler.
Charlie Flemming, the president of Georgia’s AFL-CIO, says these workers, who include bus drivers and crossing guards, should be allowed to collect funds during breaks in the schedule.
“So, if the commissioner admits that it’s the businesses that are gaming the system, why does he want to take it out on the workers, who are doing everything they are supposed to do?”
Gene O’Kelley, also with the AFL-CIO, says there are more important issues that need to be addressed by Georgia officials.
“This state, along with Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana still have the highest unemployment in the whole country.”
Butler says the money for these payments will come from the state trust fund.
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