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C’mon, man

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Illinois

* There are those who believe that Treasurer Dan Rutherford believes he will run for something else in the future. Stories like this one, however, aren’t gonna help…

More than 25 nonunion employees in state Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s office got pay increases ranging from 8 percent to 36 percent over the past year.

Rutherford’s office also awarded $88,966 in one-time payments to 35 nonunion employees on Oct. 31. Most were less than $3,000, but former chief of staff Kyle Ham, whose base salary was $125,004, received a $10,000 extra payment. Ham started a new job Dec. 15 as chief executive officer of Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council. […]

Among employees who didn’t get raises in the past year but who did get one-time payments were Curt Conrad of Springfield, deputy chief of staff, who makes $99,996 annually and got an $8,000 payment, and Bridget Byron of Chicago, chief investment officer. She is paid $114,996 annually and got a $9,200 payment.

His office claims the bonuses and pay hikes were based on “performance … job duty changes and more responsibility.” But some of those folks worked on his campaign.

* And what happened with the union workers this year?…

Prochaska said AFSCME Council 31 represents about 30 workers in the treasurer’s unclaimed property division. The new three-year contract is retroactive to July 1, 2012. Members received lump-sums equivalent to 2.1 percent of salary for each of the first two years and 1.75 percent raises as of July 1. With changes in cost for medical coverage, the members at the treasurer’s office “about break even,” he said.

“They would not give these huge increases to management while they were at the bargaining table with us (saying) our request for 2 percent wage increases would not be fiscally responsible,” Prochaska said. “This was this administration’s final opportunity to profiteer off of state government on their way out the door, while the dedicated state employees who have and will continue to perform the actual work serving the public are left behind, literally and financially.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 11:26 am

Comments

I’m sure that undisclosed, taxpayers paid, internal investigative report would clear up all these “bonuses” and such.

@FakeRutherfordDan - I like sunshine as long as I stay in the shade #ShadyWayToRunAnOffice

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 11:30 am
As JBT used to say, ‘turn about is fair play.’

Comment by William j Kelly Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 11:31 am
I work for a public agency and three upper level staffers just got 15% increases at a time when they are already telling us how bad the FY16 (June) budget is going to be, sheesh.

Comment by James the Intolerant Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 11:32 am
“There ain’t no right way to do the wrong thing.”

Comment by Knome Sane Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 11:38 am
In the words of one of our most respected contemporary philosophers:

Doh!

Comment by A guy... Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 11:41 am
When was the last time non union employees received a raise?
For most with no power / connection about 10 years
The bigger story should be _ the union raises
over the same timeperiod; A staff employee should not make more than a supervisor simply because they are alive for another year. This story is smoke and mirrors covering up that
cost.

Comment by nonunion employee Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 11:54 am
“hush” money

Comment by x-pol Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 11:56 am
Dan Dan the patronage man.

Comment by Under Influenced Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 11:56 am
=A staff employee should not make more than a supervisor simply because they are alive for another year.=

They make more because:
1. They are alive; AND
2. They collectively bargain their wages. More proof that collective bargaining is good for the middle class.

Comment by chi Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 12:01 pm
“When was the last time non union employees received a raise?” While a valid question, I also have to ask how many of them will still have their jobs on Jan 13th.

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 12:12 pm
These bonuses were partially offset by the savings from the occasional employee who stayed out in the car rather than adding to Rutherford’s meal expense.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 12:18 pm
Just another patronage driven pol who uses taxpayer dollars to reward those who support him politically. Tell me again what the moral difference is between an Illinois Dem and Republican? And they wonder why people don’t bother to vote….

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 12:21 pm
Rutherford really is the worst. And shame on all of his staff who took the bonuses. Totally irresponsible and wrong.

The idea that this clown thought he was qualified to be Governor really irritates me.

Please head back to Pontiac and disappear.

Comment by LilLebowskiUrbanAchiever Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 12:44 pm
Personally, I’m holding my breath in anticipation of what is sure to be a dandy press release from the Rauner transition team condemning this as another example of classic Springfield corruption and cronyism that they are going to clean up.

Comment by Left Leaner Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 12:46 pm
I’m curious to see when the Braver Report Rutherford worked so hard to cover up, is finally released, how many of those who received raises also spoke on Rutherford’s behalf.

Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 12:53 pm
A couple of these fellows are co-defendants in the re-filed lawsuit. It’s not too hard to imagine that some who got bumps could be called as witnesses if it ever goes to trial.

Playing with fire there.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 12:57 pm
In the meantime, the Tribune reports that 80% of companies give out bonuses. Tsk, tsk for that opulence.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 12:59 pm
non inion employee is almost spot on - non-union employees got their last real raise if you worked under Edgar was is 2003 - I take home less than I did 10 years ago. If this had been going on when the State asked me to work for them I would have said no - at some point it will hurt Illinois - union members often make $20,000 more than we do -

Comment by Yatzi Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 1:04 pm
It seems this makes things difficult for Rauner to pick up a number of these staffers. And Frank Lesko is an alderman in Springfield. That can’t make residents of his ward happy.

Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 1:09 pm
Hypocrite!

Comment by Federalist Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 1:21 pm
The non union employees at STO had raises within the past five years. You can search their names and salaries & see that this is not a case of union employees making more than their non union counterparts. It sounds so good, but just isn’t true at all for STO.

Comment by Illinoise Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 1:39 pm
The bonus paid to Kyle Ham brought his year’s pay within $700 of Treasurer Rutherford’s own salary.

Comment by cover Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 1:43 pm
Non-union employees under the gov do not have the increases given by other elected officials (Treas., Comp., A.G., etc) the other elected officials have control over much of thier salaries - even the hours may be a bit different 8.5 hrs for some and 82.5 for others

Comment by Yatzi Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 1:52 pm
This was clearly fishy. Looks bad. Smells bad.

But I could frankly give a flying leap about the union whining. A lot of non union employees have gone without raises for years and years. So while they may gripe about what they’ve gotten, anything more than 0% is more than what a lot of non union folks have received.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:12 pm
Aren’t these employees all losing their jobs? Easy to decry the bonuses when you don’t have to worry about paying the bills for a few months

Comment by Anon Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:24 pm
Dan would be a very interesting political bio. He’s really gone from extremely popular to kind of icky.

You just can’t do that without helping the effort yourself.

Comment by A guy... Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:31 pm
Current state employees are wearing the golden-pension handcuffs. And the (any) administration knows it. Let’s see how many will cross the picket if there is a strike when the new contract fails.

Comment by Poster Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:34 pm
A Guy…yep, Dan has been drinking his own koolaid for quite some time…

Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 2:56 pm
Unionized state workers are overpaid for what they do and are way over benefited. Open up those jobs to all citizens freely and watch the quality and education level of the employees go up and the wage down.

Comment by SantasLittleHelper Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 3:14 pm
== Open up those jobs to all citizens freely==

Those jobs are open to anybody. Apply.

Dope.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 3:19 pm
judging by the stories I read… It seems like those raises and bonuses are deserved

Comment by just came here to look at the comments Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 3:19 pm
=open up those jobs to all citizens freely==

Hysterical! Not too long ago before the private sector blew itself up all by itself, those folks used to LAUGH at anyone who would go so low as to work in the public sector. They’d laugh at the low pay, low benefits compared to what they were getting. Well, well, well. Their perspective has changed ONLY because of the bang up job the privates have done to them. Suddenly, public employment is looking good for the first time in my life, and I’m a pretty old person!

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 3:46 pm
I looked at the list of employees and I recognized a few names. Knowing what they do, I would say they are grossly underpaid so some of the raises don’t look out of line to me. With a few exceptions I don’t really have a problem with what was done.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:10 pm
Other than the egregious ones at the top of the list, this doesn’t seem so bad considering how long there were no increases.

Comment by Original Rambler Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 4:32 pm
@yatzi Sorry to hear that for you as everyone deserves a decent wage, if they work hard. At STO this is not the case. Since the office is not under the Gov., the Treas. can (and the past two have ) given raises to the non union employees. On the STO wage list, union employees are not the top earners by a LONG shot. That list is public record.

Comment by Illinoise Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 5:40 pm
I wonder if the raises went to those who didn’t complain about the groping.

Comment by Michael Westen Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 6:34 pm
The new Treasurer needs to go in and clean up the sewage of an office Dan is leaving behind.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 22, 14 @ 10:02 pm