48 Comments - Skeeter - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 12:58 pm: Government needs to start acting like a private sector employer. If the unions demand too much, say no. Let them go on strike. Hire replacements. Too often it seems that government leaders don’t treat government employee wages like real money. Unions demand it and government pays. - hisgirlfriday - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:01 pm: They should only have to give back their wages if Quinn has to give back his wages as governor. Because neither of them would have gotten where they are now without each other. - Truthteller - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:05 pm: Rich, AFSCME already deferred wage increases on two occasions in response to the Governor’s plea for fiscal relief. The amount Quinn owes AFSCME members is substantially less than the $85 million annual tax break he gave to one company,(CME) alone. The Governor has put himself squarely on the side of the 1% against working families. We should call him Rahm Emanuel Jr. - Ready To Get Out - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:11 pm: Where does Quinn get his figures? From the same person, when he recently used a pension example of a person 20 years ago receiving $60,000 a year? If we can just say anything and not be held accountable, I’m here today to report that Gov. Quinn’s staff received a 132% raise last year and they should give it back! - AC - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:15 pm: I remember working for the state as a computer programmer during Y2K, and there was no interest in salary parity with the private sector. The interest in ensuring state employee compensation is comparable with the private sector during the great recession is something I expect to be completely ignored during the next boom. So, I am voting against the pay concessions because I believe that there will be no interest in matching private sector compensation when the recession is over. - Anonymous - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:17 pm: I added up everything in the wage provisions of the last two contracts (which cover the last eight years) and can’t come up with anything near 48%. Is this like the retiree who doubled his $60K pension? What eight years is he talking about? - Ahoy! - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:19 pm: Voted no, but I think it’s very fair to have a couple years without wage increases or at least no net cost increase to the State. The State could work out a leveling of wages (or decrease) through higher wage earners retiring and replacing with lower wages or a decrease in overall employees. Reducing headcount would be difficult since we are actually understaffed. While we could do away with some positions (like “advisors to the chief of staff”), we still need front end workers. While the important budget item isn’t individual wages, it’s the overall cost. The State is in such a bad budget circumstance and really doesn’t have the ability to start cutting its workforce; we should probably look at a wage freeze for at least the next two years. - geronimo - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:31 pm: With outright lies like this deliberately stated to inflame the public, you betcha everyone’s outraged. The public should be outraged for being maipulated and lied to, workers are outraged for such blatant disrespect and being used as whipping boys, using information that is just plain wrong. But this isn’t just about state workers. With the CSO strike and various others, it’s about the top down dictatorial attitude toward anyone who works for a living. People who actually go to work for a paycheck seem to be under attack by management, whether in the private or public sector. But PQ takes the cake for looking like a fool when he gives out fake figures. Does anyone respect him? - Anon. - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:32 pm: Let’s see. I buy a new car and sign a contract to make payments, but I decide to spend it on a new driveway. That’s OK because a contract is contingent on what I believe to be important. Therefore “A word means exactly what I want it to mean…”. Visit Illinois, but first you have to go through the Looking Glass. - Judgment Day - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:40 pm: So, instead of 6% per year average salary increase, they ‘only’ averaged a 3.5625% wage increase per year over the last 8 years. Don’t weep too hard, AFSCME. There’s lots of people out there who have seen a 0% (zero) average increase over the last 8 years. And those are the folks who still have jobs. If this is AFSCME’s best defense against Pat Quinn - well, IMO, better find a different angle of attack. just my .02 - Cindy Lou - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:44 pm: Bwahaha…thanks for the AFSCME update…it saved me the trouble of going up to the storage room and digging for the last master contract (which is no longer online) and all my paystubs and tax returns. 48%! The man seriously needs a fresh-up on math. I sooooo don’t miss the negotiations and political ‘bargaining’ aka media methods this year. - Irish - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 1:47 pm: Let’s see I pay into my pension for 37 years and I expect management will do the same. But instead they don’t, and then they take money I have paid in and spend it on birthday presents for people so they get to keep their job. Then when the well is dry they blame it on me. And the people getting the presents don’t care cause heck they are getting something and no one asked them to kick in. So they live on in LaLa land believing there is a fairy god mother and you do get things for free. And they aren’t going to ask questions that might stop the free stuff. - He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:00 pm: Quinn signed the last contract, negotiated against it, and another agreement was reached. People have bought homes cars etc based on the salaries they currently have, dropping them 2 pay grades will most likely create havoc on the economy as you will see forclosures etc. I do think the union should just forgo raises over this contract. But Definately NOT cuts. - Ready To Get Out - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:09 pm: Not to say there aren’t people opposed, but I haven’t talked to anyone personally who has a problem with no pay raises for a couple of years. Most everyone has said just renew the current contract language minus the raises. But when you talk about a two grade concession, then the conversation gets ugly. - Mike Huntoon - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:13 pm: I know that givebacks are anethma to labor, but wage increases of more than 25% (even if it is over the life of a contract) in today’s economy are not appropiate. The union’s retort shows how terribly out of touch it’s leadership is today - ONLY 28.5% increase indeed! - Loop Lady - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:17 pm: Some sort of contract would be advisable at this point for all parties involved doncha think? Month to month extensions on an old contract screams: “STALLING” at me. IMO, Quinn is just waiting until the elections are over to begin the real conversation. - geronimo - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:25 pm: Why does PQ deliberately report incorrect facts and who is asking him to do so? - Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:32 pm: @Skeeter - I could be wrong, but I believe state employees are barred from striking. Anyone? - Kerfuffle - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:34 pm: I agree with Judgment Day in that there are a lot of folks out there who would have liked to average that percentage of annual pay increase per year but I don’t begrudge the union of that fact. (Just because you or I may not have had that increase we sure would have taken it if offered.) What would you have AFSCME argue when the governor falsely states they have had a 48% increase over the last 8 years other than the simple facts of the matter? I’m not crying for them but I don’t expect them to sit back and let the governor mislead the public on this matter. - Demoralized - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:36 pm: YDD: They are not barred from striking, though many things have to happen before that point is reached. We are getting closer to that point. Some workers are, however, barred from striking such as prison guards, vets home workers, mental health workers at state facilities, etc. - Fedup2 - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:48 pm: July 6, 2010 Quinn announces raises for his staff: Chicago Tribune Meanwhile, Quinn defended giving raises to certain members of his staff amid the state’s budget crisis, saying the bumps in pay corresponded with increases in responsibility. An Associated Press report found that Quinn has given 43 salary increases averaging 11.4 percent to 35 staffers in the past 15 months. How can he justify cutting our salaries? - Just Because - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:56 pm: I too work for the state. Merit comp zero percent in 9 years. with all the increases in pension and insurance i take home less today then i did 10 years ago. - walkinfool - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 2:58 pm: Quinn had the numbers wrong: but even when corrected AFSCME has done somewhat better than most of the private sector over the past 8 years — though one could argue they started with a lower base. No They shouldn’t be forced to give up increases. It should be offered as a negotiated option, in exchange for fewer losing their jobs. No they - SO IL M - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 3:06 pm: Has anyone considered introducing legislation to require the Governor to tell the truth on issues when he speaks? - See you on the picket line! - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 3:07 pm: If Quinn sticks with this line, they’ll be a strike. It’ll last two or three weeks. Not everyone will go out but most of state government will come screeching to a halt. And, only really un-informed people will say fire the strikers and hire new employees. That would take forever. It’s takes six to 9 months right now to hire a new state employee. In addition, an AFSCME strike will ahve implications on national politics. Not good for Obama. - OurMagician - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 3:17 pm: Will someone from AFSCME be in Brazil with Pat following him around? - Anon - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 3:18 pm: For those saying “wage freeze” for this upcoming contract, that is exactly what AFSCME is actually trying to get this time around. The state is thinking 2 grade decreases and more. The last contract was a little ridiculous. AFSCME went in thinking wage freeze and were very suprised to get raises. But it was Blago of course… - SAP - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 3:19 pm: Judgmennt Day nailed it - Suburban Resident - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 3:47 pm: Where do we start? Is the average 28.5% really better than 48%? The fact that AFSCME admits it a small percentage of their 40,000? What is minuscule? 10%, 20%, or less than half. Vague. The fact that the Governor is aware that there are AFSCME members that have been able to raise their salaries 48% in eight years, speaks volumes. Our governor probably has a list of dead beat employees that have been living the sweet life since Blago. My guess is that some might be sitting in CMS and he’s trying to figure out how a guy hired at 50k/yr is now making 75k/yr while having poor performance evaluations. At least AFSCME clarified it was steps (longevity) and colas that made that possible. - Suburban Resident - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 3:48 pm: If Quinn sticks with this line, they’ll be a strike. It’ll last two or three weeks. Not everyone will go out but most of state government will come screeching to a halt. _____ You say strike, Quinn thinks Union Furlough days. - Irish - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 3:59 pm: What people are not talking about is that for a very long time state workers did not make near what the private sector did. I worked for about ten years before I made more than the poverty level. I used to remind the folks in Springfield about this when they sent out the forms to donate through SECA to impoverished families. I told them I already did. But I enjoyed my job and looked at it as a career. The free insurance after 20 years was an incentive. Maybe we should be comparing what the private sector, and the state executive officers have made over the last 38 years and compare that to where the rank and file have made to get a true comparison. I doubt many people would have wanted the state job back in 1976. - 1776 - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 4:24 pm: Yes. Many workers whether they are private non-union jobs or unionized workforces (see auto workers) have had their salaries reduced over the past few years. Its between the employer and employees but should not be off the table. - Judgment Day - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 4:40 pm: “If Quinn sticks with this line, they’ll be a strike. It’ll last two or three weeks. Not everyone will go out but most of state government will come screeching to a halt. And, only really un-informed people will say fire the strikers and hire new employees. That would take forever. It’s takes six to 9 months right now to hire a new state employee.” In a smart operation (obviously, not in Pat Quinn’s operation), they would already be planning for a strike. They would have a list of all the different areas of state operations where those ’services’ can be outsourced to contractors who would do the work, and probably at the same price, without incurring the costs of retirement benefits. It can happen, and there would be quite a few private companies of all sizes being willing to stand up their operations to handle the load, once they are sure they will get paid on a timely basis. For several reasons, that scenario is unlikely to play out (at least short term) here in IL, but ASFCME needs to not antagonize the Speaker too much, because unlike Quinn (who is ‘Disorganization Central’ personified), the Speaker is both highly organized and strategic in his thinking. He could make it happen. And most of the Republicans would go along. Then it’s in the Senate’s court. - Worker - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 4:53 pm: Thank you for pointing out that the Governor frequently says incorrect things about union workers. And thank you for referring to it as a lie. It probably was. - thunder - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 4:53 pm: I don’t understand how people constantly want to attack the state worker. Do this to them, do that to them. Why doesn’t the state look at creating jobs? How about passing a law making FIREWORKS legal in the state of Illinois, allowing businesses to be opened up all over the state, employing thousands of people and not to mention a new tax for the state. All I read is how the state worker keeps getting attacked. Create jobs. Look at ways to provide jobs and stop attacking the working people!!! These same people that are attacked pay there way to live in Illinois like every other working person. The unions pass the benefits and the governor signs the contracts. We never hear anything about it until the state wants to make cuts and then they go after the state employees, there pay or benefits or retirements. Create jobs, new jobs, new revenue!!! - Sir Reel - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 5:06 pm: Interesting that AFSCME says most employees don’t get steps so Quinn’s number is high. So most employees have enough seniority to have almost a job for life. That job security must be considered along with compensation especially in comparison to private sector employees. So 20+ % pay increase plus job security is good in today’s economy. I also like how AFSCME always describes employees as those taking care of the disabled, etc. - in the best light. Many are but many are not, making good money with little responsibilty. - gallerywalker - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 5:15 pm: Once again, when the truth is not on your side, throw ridiculous numbers out there. Unfortunately for the state worker, the average citizen will believe Quinn’s untruths rather than investigate themselves. I will never apologize for the wages and benefits that I earn each and every day!! Don’t hate, do like I did and fill out an application. We have been doing more with less for almost a decade! Never will I apologize!! Never!! - Norseman - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 5:26 pm: I don’t know all the nuances, but there must be some right to strike. Quinn asked agencies to update their strike plans. - RetiredStateEmployee - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 5:31 pm: So, less than 3.5% per year is somehow more than we want to spend on public servants. When Quinn is done, remember this when you start complaining about state services. They can’t come up with accurate numbers now. Why would any competent individual actually want to work for the state. It will really get bad soon. - Aftermath - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 5:33 pm: For what it’s worth, this calculator figures that inflation has increased 22% in the past eight years. http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ I did it by hand from Aug 2004 thru Aug 2012 and came up with 21.4%. - Smitty Irving - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 6:23 pm: So, if the inflation calculator is a 22% increase, what would Quinn say about the Merit Comp people? - Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 7:46 pm: Well, as I predicted, the recent CTU strike is having implications for Springfield. Before we go any further ramping up talk of a strike…when was the last statewide strike by AFSCME? 1975? - Reality Check - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 8:01 pm: In nearly 40 years of collective bargaining with governors of both parties, there has never been a state employees strike. If Quinn manages to provoke a strike it will be the crowning failure of a term riddled with his own unforced errors. - state worker - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 9:59 pm: omg….how can he keep his job and keep lying? - VanillaMan - Monday, Sep 24, 12 @ 11:00 pm: Any governor this misinformed should be removed from office. - Rusty618 - Tuesday, Sep 25, 12 @ 8:07 am: Skeeter - I would like to see the state replacement me if we go on strike. My job requires an MS degree, takes at least 2 years to train for, and many years to gain experience, including techniques I have pioneered. As a state employee, I will forgo a raise this year and just take the 3% COLA increase that the legislators get every year. Or better yet, I’ll take a $40K increase like Quinn spokesperson Kelly Kraft got, because I have extra responsibilities also. - Judgment Day - Tuesday, Sep 25, 12 @ 8:40 am: “I would like to see the state replacement me if we go on strike. My job requires an MS degree, takes at least 2 years to train for, and many years to gain experience, including techniques I have pioneered. As a state employee, I will forgo a raise this year and just take the 3% COLA increase that the legislators get every year. Or better yet, I’ll take a $40K increase like Quinn spokesperson Kelly Kraft got, because I have extra responsibilities also.” Hate to say this, but that’s a pretty good summary of what was being said at the time in the private sector, circa 2007. Lot has happened since then. Everybody can be replaced. The outcomes aren’t necessarily as good, or even desirable. In fact, oftentimes it’s downright ugly. But affordability does come into play here, and oftentimes it becomes the deciding factor. - Rufus - Tuesday, Sep 25, 12 @ 11:14 am: Thank you Aftermath, I was about to report that, glad you found it first. So my real income has increased by 1.25 % over 8 years. Wow… That really helps as I try to send my Daughter to college. Why Quinn is going after state employees befuddles me. The lasting effects will cause good employees to leave and the bad ones to stay… Seems like he is trying to destroy State government, just like Blago did. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.