Facing Possible Pink-Slips, ASEA Members Share Their Voice

By Jashua Bane

Anchorage – Ten of thousands of Alaskan public employees have their eyes on the legislature. Why? Pink slips could be delivered to public service workers if a state budget has not passed and approved by Gov. Dunleavy by June 14. If a budget isn’t passed by July 1, the government shuts down. This shutdown would prevent all Alaskans from accessing the vital services that they need. The DMV and social services would cease operating, fishing licenses would no longer be issued and the Alaska Marine Highway would shut down for all users.

ASEA is working with Alaska’s other public employee unions and the Alaska AFL-CIO to advocate for the best possible budget compromise. In addition, other interest groups—not just unions—are pushing to get a budget passed soon. They understand that fiscal uncertainty is not in the interest of Alaskans.

Joey Tillson, a Law Office Assistant for the District Attorney’s Office and President of the ASEA Ketchikan Chapter, described the damaging effects of pink slips:

“When I received my first pink slip in 2015, I was very stressed because I was a single mother with mortgages. I was terrified I was going to lose my state job, which provided the financial security and health insurance that my family needed. That kind of turmoil and stress of not knowing if I would be laid off is draining. Even now, it continues to put a strain on my family because I have had to work two part time jobs and have missed out on quality time with my daughter. No family should ever have to endure this sort of unnecessary stress.”

Tillson added, “After working in law-enforcement in the past, I have seen what happens when families lose their jobs. It’s damaging and increases the probability of substance abuse and possible domestic situations. We do not need more Alaskan families having to endure these stressors and uncertainties of their financial situations.”

“As a social worker, I have seen an increasing number of requests for food stamps, Medicaid and cash assistance. How can social workers provide the services that our community needs if they’re out of work? Now I work in the District Attorney’s office, and I see other broken, stressed communities due to theft, drug abuse and many people who are out of work. One way or another, Alaska ends up paying for their communities. The best option is to have Alaskans working.”

Andy Khmelev, an Occupational License Examiner, says that a potential government shutdown will prevent him from doing his job to keep Alaska working and in business.

“I received my first pink slip six months after starting with the state. It was worrisome because my child was one year old at the time. That was over five years ago,” said Khmelev.

“Now the threat of pinks slips is irritating. I have received a pink slip almost every year that I’ve been working at the state. Working for the state used to be a stable place to work with a bright future, but not anymore. It seems like those days are long gone.”

ASEA and Alaska still need your help! Please urge your legislature to pass a budget to prevent a government shutdown. Also, join us at one of the upcoming member action rallies across Alaska to Save Our State.