Rocked by a $4 million deficit and allegations of freewheeling spending by top executives, the national board of the NAACP announced yesterday that most of the 88 office workers placed on unpaid leave will remain on unlimited furlough.
Earl T. Shinhoster, interim senior administrator of the NAACP's national office in Baltimore, said in a brief prepared statement that 26 employees would return to work this week. Most are middle-level managers and administrators involved in fund-raising operations.
Mr. Shinhoster refused to comment further.
Union officials representing the furloughed workers questioned the decision last night, saying the employees who got their jobs back are among the highest-paid in the NAACP while most of those left on furlough make less than $11,000 a year.
"They could have hired back two or three of the little people for what some of these people are making," said Sandra Almond, president of the union local that represents about 40 clerical workers. "The employees are very upset. My phone is ringing off the wall."
Hoping to stave off permanent layoffs, the National Association For the Advancement of Colored People -- which depends largely on individual and corporate donations -- stepped up efforts earlier this month to raise more money so it could bring back all the workers. But those efforts fell short as some donors froze or slowed contributions in reaction to reports of financial irregularities, leaving dozens of clerks and secretarial workers without jobs.
Mr. Shinhoster said the 26 returning workers will be used to reopen the NAACP's Washington legal office and its fund-raising operation in hopes of getting enough donations to rehire everyone. He said the organization will review its cash flow weekly and bring workers back if and when funds are available.
NAACP National Executive Board Chairman William F. Gibson "emphasized that further recall of employees will be based on the continued improvement of the association's financial condition," the announcement said.
Eighteen of the 23 NAACP chapter presidents in Maryland announced Saturday that they had given Dr. Gibson a no-confidence vote. Dr. Gibson has been accused of lavish spending and charging business expenses to the organization that had already been paid through his NAACP credit card -- accusations he has denied.
"These furloughs are one more indication of how far we have deteriorated under the 10 years of Mr. Gibson's leadership," said Gregory Wims, president of the Maryland State Conference of the NAACP. "This didn't just happen overnight. It wasn't an accident. It took many years to develop, during which time he did nothing to stop it. Now these people who have been loyal employees are paying for it. It's a shame."
Dr. Gibson, a South Carolina dentist, could not be reached for comment. Board members in Ohio, North Carolina and New York were unavailable.
Since they were furloughed between three and six weeks ago, many of the clerical employees have continued to work for free in hopes of helping the civil rights group get back on its feet and seeing paychecks again.
"They've been volunteering, hanging in there and trying to make the best of it," said Ms. Almond, president of Local 2202N of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. "None of them have really had time to look for new jobs, and it was hard on a lot of us just getting through the Thanksgiving holidays."
Ms. Almond said three of her members are pregnant and have been forced to apply for welfare and food stamps while they waited to see if they would get their jobs back. Most of the others are receiving unemployment checks.
"Now, it looks like things are going to get a lot worse," she said.