Home

Benefits & Services

Union Leadership

News

PAC

Calendar

News

Dear GGU Member,

For the past week we have been conducting numerous worksite meetings in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau to answer questions regarding a possible government shutdown on July 1. One of the most frequently asked question is “How will the essential positions that will be required to work be identified and which positons will be determined to be essential of if there is a shutdown”?

The State Administration has the responsibility of determining which positions are essential and will be asked to work without a FY 2018 budget that appropriates the funds for the positions. The Department of Law has conducted a shutdown analysis of the government programs and services that can legally continue at partial or complete funding levels if a shutdown occurs because no budget has been passed. You can view their analysis by clicking on the following link:

http://www.law.state.ak.us/pdf/press/170608-LAW-Shutdown-factsheet.pdf

Note that the last paragraph in the fact sheet states that the Department of Law is working with the Office of Management and Budget and each department to evaluate their programs and services. They are going through a process to determine which positions might meet each of the criteria.

I was informed today by the Division of Personnel that a list of the “essential” positions in each department has not been completed at this time. Therefore, it is not possible for us to tell you which positions will continue to work if a shutdown occurs. As soon as I am provided with a list of the essential positions I will send an email to inform you that it has been posted on our website.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Jim Duncan
Executive Director