LANSING - Six weeks after David Plawecki addressed a group of building trades leaders and described how there was "no excuse" for the state's abysmal unemployment compensation customer service record, he said the situation has improved.

"I'm proud to say, we're pretty much back to normal," he said.

On March 4, Plawecki, acting director of the state Bureau of Workers and Unemployment Compensation (BWUC), told delegates at the Michigan State Building and Construction Trades Council's 45th Legislative Conference that late checks and unreachable customer service representatives have been a source of frustration for the unemployed - and the BWUC. There were 65,000 complaints by unemployed workers in the first 21 days of the Granholm Administration.

"It has been so sad to work for an area of government that is supposed to provide a service to Michigan, but the situation the last administration left this agency in terms of our ability to get checks out was a perfect storm - it was a disgrace," Plawecki told delegates.

Plawecki said 35-40 percent of the state's BWUC workers walked out the door last Nov. 1 in an early retirement package offered by the Engler Administration, but there was no provision made for their replacements. Retirees have been coaxed back to work on a temporary basis to handle the crush of claims in recent months. Four years ago, the department had 1,300 full-time workers - now they're down to 700, with a higher claims load.

Construction workers and other jobless Michiganians have complained about late checks, and the inability to get through to anyone at the department who can answer their questions. The BWUC's phone system logs 15,000-20,000 calls per day.

Today, Plawecki said the department has improved to the point where it is two to three days behind in processing claims, but resolving claimant disputes with the BWUC is still 10 weeks behind schedule. He said the state Unemployment Trust Fund "is still exceptionally strong," with $1.8 billion in the till.

Six weeks ago, Steve Franklin, business manager of IBEW Local 445 in Battle Creek, and his office manager Tina Southern, told us that the state system was doing a lousy job for the unemployed. Today, "the complaints from members have been reduced dramatically," Franklin said. Southern, who became the local's point person for giving advice on jobless claims, said "now I can go back to doing my work instead of the state's work."