A rule change being considered by the Department of Labor would eliminate merit requirements (also known as civil service protections) for workers in state employment services.
AFSCME members who work in state employment services play a critical role connecting qualified job seekers with employers looking to build a strong workforce. These public service workers are a vital part of our states’ economic engines.
They also protect the integrity of state unemployment insurance programs by ensuring that unemployed workers are doing what is required of them to remain eligible for unemployment benefits.
For nearly 100 years, these qualified professionals have been able to perform their jobs free from political influence and corruption.
However, the rule change proposed by the Department of Labor would eliminate those protections and undermine the services they provide. It would drive many experienced state government staff from their careers, threatening the integrity of services for job seekers and employers alike.