All probationary U.S. Forest Service employees who were recently terminated will be reinstated with back pay by Wednesday, according to a Tuesday press release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The decision follows a directive from the federal Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), which on March 5 ordered the USDA to temporarily reinstate thousands of workers who lost their jobs last month.
“On Wednesday, March 5, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) issued a 45-day stay on the termination of U.S. Department of Agriculture probationary employees. By Wednesday, March 12, the Department will place all terminated probationary employees in pay status and provide each with back pay, from the date of termination. The Department will work quickly to develop a phased plan for return-to-duty, and while those plans materialize, all probationary employees will be paid,” the release read.
More than 360 Montana-based federal Forest Service workers were terminated after receiving emails that were based on their job performance and that their continued employment “would not be in the public interest.”
Since then, former employees of the Custer Gallatin National Forest told the Chronicle they have received no communication from the USDA. Additionally, as of Tuesday, a source told the Chronicle that individuals still employed within the Custer Gallatin had not been alerted to this release yet.
“I’m just really skeptical that anything actionable will happen any time soon, and I am not getting my hopes up,” said Neva Bentley, a former Custer Gallatin soil science technician.
Custer Gallatin National Forest officials said they aren't able to immediately respond to questions.
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