Bill HaslamNASHVILLE – Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to lay off more than 200 state workers this month struck a pothole today when a Davidson County judge signed a temporary restraining order after state employees filed suit charging top officials violated worker guarantees under state law.
Circuit Court Judge Amanda McClendon granted the request and has scheduled a hearing for Monday in the case, said attorney Larry Woods, who is representing the Tennessee State Employees Association and a group of individual state workers.
The suit says Haslam, state Human Resources Commissioner Rebecca Hunter and other
officials are running afoul of a provision that a 60-day notice be given prior to termination in order to give employees “career counseling, job testing, and placement efforts.”
Officials with the TSEA as well as several state employees have told the Times Free Press in recent days no such assistance is being provided.