By Trey Mewes

trey.mewes@austindailyherald.com

AUSTIN — It’s not a completely rosy picture for Mower County employees.

Though about 39 Mower County employees will be forced to leave their jobs, they’ll still be covered under health insurance. Even though they’ll come back once the budget crisis is resolved, some employees could lose their jobs depending on the state budget.

The local American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union recast their vote Thursday to accept an involuntary leave from the County Board of Commissioners after voting against the proposal Wednesday.

That means the 26 employees in the county Department of Human Services and the 13.355 employees in public health, along with a part-time environmental service employee will use paid vacation time for as long as the government shutdown is in place.

“There were some misunderstandings in terms of recall rights (and health insurance),” said County Coordinator Craig Oscarson.

The employees will use up their time but still have health insurance for the month of July because they were paid for part of the month, using their vacation time.

“It’s just like they’re on vacation,” Oscarson said.

If a government shutdown lasts longer than July, the county board must reconvene to determine the next step as the employees are only on involuntary leave through next month. The board could vote to use money in reserves, but nothing has been decided yet, according to Oscarson.

If AFSCME hadn’t changed its decisions, it would have been laid off with a lump sum of its vested benefits on its last check. It wouldn’t have been covered under the county’s health insurance and would have had to pay between $1,300 and $1,500 a month to buy back in, Oscarson said.

The Local Nine union, which covers about three Public Health employees, accepted the board’s proposal Wednesday and will take an involuntary leave.

Those on leave won’t have to worry about their jobs … yet.

“Once the state opens up for business again, our intention is to put all our employees back to the position they were in before,” Oscarson said.

Yet once back to work, employees may have to be cut depending on how state legislators and Gov. Mark Dayton solve the budget crisis. If the state discontinues a service Mower County provides, that employee could lose his or her job, according to Oscarson.

Oscarson said the county will still receive County Program Aid throughout the shutdown.