Gee.
Gov. Chet Culver's administration agreed Friday to offer pay increases for state employees that will cost taxpayers more than $100 million, despite Republican requests that the decisions be delayed until Terry Branstad becomes governor in January.
...The wage hike plan would give members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, better known as AFSCME, a 2 percent across-the-board increase for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and another 1 percent raise the following calendar year on Jan. 1, which is what the group had requested. This 2- and 1- percent increase, under the contract, would be given in each of the next two contract years.
Here's the part that really sucks:
In addition, many union members who are not at the top of their pay grade would receive an additional 4.5 percent raise, known as a step increase, for certain professional milestones or for job longevity and other career advancements.
I'm tempted to say "longevity" is the determinant for the vast majority, but...
Of course, the incoming (R) has an option: furloughs and layoffs, just like Governor Walker.
1 word to explain Culver's dispicable action that is basicly an obcene gesture to us who voted him out: Payback.
ReplyDeletePayback to the unions for supporting him. Revenge aimed at the rest of us & esp Branstad by putting him in a position that Culver hopes will make Branstad look like the bad guy.
Hopefully Gov Branstad will do just what you said "furloughs and layoffs".
Sounds like Branstad has to find about $200MM worth of public employee positions to eliminate now.
ReplyDeletePayback can be served cold.
I congratulate Governor Culver on following through with a promise for honoring collective bargaining, a mainstay of our current capitalistic system.
ReplyDelete