
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 16, 1990                   TAG: 9007160201
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CENSUS TROUBLE

THOUSANDS of temporary Census Bureau workers have discovered they may not be able to collect unemployment checks.

Normally, such temporary work counts toward eligibility for unemployment benefits, but Congress decided in May that census work since April 20 would no longer be counted toward the benefits.

Trouble is, nobody told the census workers. They apparently didn't find out until some filed claims for benefits and were told they weren't eligible.

Though officials deny it, some workers suspect the bureau kept the move quiet to avoid mass resignations during the busiest time of the census.

Maybe it was just an unfortunate breakdown in communications. But if it turns out the bureau tried to pull a fast one, it may find many fewer willing helpers when it goes to count noses in the year 2000.

by CNB