In a unique negotiation between city staff and labor organizations, all parties have agreed to implement an employee leave-donation program. That is, city employees can donate vacation time or paid leave or even take an unpaid leave, and the money saved will go toward a fund so that their colleagues can keep their jobs, hopefully until the end of the year. But things need to get going by Sept. 15 or it's no deal.

The city council unanimously approved the agreement at the August 19 council meeting.

When the council approved the 2003-2004 city budget on June 17, it agreed to postpone any layoffs until city staff could meet with labor unions to come up with alternatives.

Staff met twice with union representatives. Steve Fisk, president of the Public Safety Officers Association, said discussions with the city were productive.

The solution is city employees helping

each other by voluntarily donating accrued vacation, paid time off and paid leave or by taking an unpaid leave of absence. The goal is to fund the continued employment of the affected employees through December 31, 2003.

One of the goals is to provide the affected employees with as much time as possible, while still employed, to find another placement in the city or to find employment elsewhere. "The hope is that each one of these people will find other jobs in the city that they're qualified to do," Fisk said.

If the alternative jobs in the city are lower paying, then money left over from employee donations would be used to maintain the employees at their original salaries until the money is used up.

The five employees, two positions with the Sunnyvale Employees Association and three management positions, may be laid off earlier than December if their colleagues cannot support them.

According to city staff, the full amount needed is $139,389. A minimum of $46,463 must be donated by Sept. 15, which would defer the layoffs of the five employees through Oct. 31. If the amount contributed is less, then no deductions would be made from employees' accrued leave, and the layoffs will occur on Sept. 30.

"This is a voluntary program, so it remains to be seen what kind of participation we get. I will encourage my fellow employees to help these folks out," said Fisk.

The city budget requires a reduction of nearly 67 full-time and 15 part-time positions. However, the city's reserves enable it to phase in the cuts over the next two fiscal years.