Camden to furlough all non-uniformed employees

Officials plan to furlough all non-uniformed Camden, New Jersey employees every Friday from June to November. The recently publicized plan would help fill a financial gap that was created when Governor Chris Christie pulled state aid, in an effort to close the Garden’s State’s own deficit.

Officials plan to furlough all non-uniformed Camden, New Jersey employees every Friday from June to November. The recently publicized plan would help fill a financial gap that was created when Governor Chris Christie pulled state aid in an effort to close the Garden’s State’s own deficit. 

The furloughs are tough news for Camden workers who are already stretching their paychecks to pay the bills.

“It’s so discouraging.” says Karl Walko, the president of Camden County Council 10, which represents about 400 city employees. “Times are tough and a lot of them don’t make a heck of a lot of money and this is really a 20% cut for six months.  What I’m hearing from them is they won’t be able to pay their bills.  The union’s considering our options and on Thursday we’re going to have a straw ballot to see whether they want the union to fight the furloughs.”

The furloughs would save $2 million. That’s not nearly enough money to cover the $8 million hole left by the cut in state aid.