BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) - M
ore than 600 employees received a letter yesterday warning that the reduction in force that is inevitable.And while some positions will be outright eliminated, other employees could lose their job through the bumping process.
This refers to the possibility that laid off county employees with greater seniority might be returned to work and displace current employees.
Daniel Webb was one of the hundreds who received the letter yesterday, which stated the possibility of his position being terminated permanently.
He was laid off last June from the General Services Department.
Like others who are waiting to hear the news, he's worried about his family and the future of the county.
"I go through bouts of rage and depression, I get up in the middle of the night and I'm wondering how i'm going to pay the necessities like power bill, water bill, things like that you worry about how you're going to take care of your family," says Webb.
"How can you prepare? You're on a job that may or may not be nixed but you're still having to work everyday so when are you going to go out and look for a job and then who's going to hire you knowing that you're company still retains you and may keep you?," asks Cheryl Hoskins, with the Jefferson County Employees Association.
No word yet on when the layoffs will happen.
The county laid off 547 people workers last year, in an effort to cut their budget.
Right now there are 2700 people still on the county payroll.
