AFP: AFSCME is “wildly out of touch”
Friday, Jan 15, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Americans for Prosperity, Illinois…
AFSCME REFUSES TO COMPROMISE DESPITE BETTER COMPENSATION THAN MOST TAXPAYERS
Study Shows State Workers Earn 40% More than Private Sector Workers
NAPERVILLE — Americans for Prosperity-Illinois highlighted a study released in June 2015 by its sister organization, Americans for Prosperity Foundation, showing the total annual compensation, including salary and benefits, for Illinois state government employees is 39.6% higher than the compensation earned by comparable private sector workers.
“AFSCME has shown itself to be wildly out of touch with the financial realities facing the taxpayers who fund their compensation packages, as well as the fiscal calamity facing the state,” said Americans for Prosperity Illinois State Director David From. “This 2015 study shows that taxpayers are being asked to fund compensation packages that they themselves are not able to obtain. Yet, AFSCME continues to demand in negotiations that taxpayers pay for continued raises and unaffordable health care plans for its members, while refusing commonsensical reforms like triggering overtime after 40 hours per week rather than 37.5 hours.”
The Americans for Prosperity Foundation study found that Illinois state government employees receive a benefits package that is on average, three times more generous than is received by private sector workers. In particular, Illinois state employees receive health coverage, retiree health plans, and pension benefits that are substantially more generous than are paid in the private sector. The average Illinois state government employee in the data sample receives an annual salary of $56,919. In addition, Illinois employees receive annual benefits, either received in that year or accrued toward retirement, worth $55,791. A comparable Illinois private sector employee receives a slightly higher salary of $61,017 but annual benefits of only $19,725. Total annual compensation for Illinois state government employees equals $112,710 versus $80,742 for comparable private sector workers, a difference of $31,968 or 39.6 percent. The study author, Andrew Biggs, is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., where he has written extensively on public employee compensation.
“Governor Rauner is right to stand up for the beleaguered Illinois taxpayers,” continued From. “AFSCME has continually pushed pay and pension packages that have contributed to the fiscal challenges facing the state. Rauner’s push for sensible changes and more modest pay increases are necessary and the right thing to do in the interest of taxpayers.”
- Norseman - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:45 pm:
Yada, yada, yada. No surprise here.
- Stones - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:47 pm:
Funny. That’s a group out of Naperville correct? Many AFSCME members couldn’t even afford to live there.
- Anonymiss - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:47 pm:
Hey Governor, it’s kinda hard to maintain that you’re this aw shucks moderate Republican just tryin’ to do the right thing when the first people to issue a statement of support are the Koch Brothers and their local tea party group. #ProTip
- Union Man - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:47 pm:
Yes, let’s fix the state on the back of employees. Everything! State Employees pay more for state government than any other segment already! They pay into pension fund, politicians steal it to pay for programd taxpayers want, but whine about.
Yes, working people caused everything bad in IL. Everything.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
Labor, here’s some red meat;
You make too much money, Rauner needs to lower Labor’s wages.
Read it, learn it, deliver it,… teach it.
Labor needs lower wages. Labor makes too much money.
“Simple” - Kristen McQueary
- Triple fat - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:50 pm:
Yep Americans For Prosperity- AstroTurf populist group funded by Charles and David Koch. AFP go piddle your studies and schemes back in Kansas where you belong… I mean the grand experiment you called for there is going Great!
- Neveranonymous - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:51 pm:
Now they should try running the data for private employees working for employers with comparable numbers of employees to the state. I don’t think public employees will come out ahead in benefits either.
- Triple fat - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
AFP after being wildly successful in their takeover of Wisconcin state government… Now sets their sights southward to the Great State of Illinois.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:54 pm:
Okay, just for the sake of argument let’s say you’re right. The package of a state worker is three times more than private. Sure, it’s what attracts good workers to state service. Well what happens when a critical percentage of state workers leave state employment because of the living hell you’ve put them through to theoretically lower costs? Who would want to take their place. Really, any of you private sector trolls want to sign up. You private social service workers want a caseload of a 1000? That’s what I have. You private social service workers want to pay double what you are paying now for health insurance? (I’ve been a private social services provider and had much cheaper insurance than I do now) No? I didn’t think so. This whole maneuver is going to cause a near collapse in state government WHEN IT ACTUALLY RESOLVES! You think the period during a strike is going to be bad. Think about when it resolves and a HUGE percentage of folks have moved on. Oh, well we’ll just privatize. Sorry folks, you can’t because of laws and statutes. The functions of the State of Illinois will collapse. Oh well the Strike won’t be that long! Really, with Rauner, Mr persistant rascal? No this is to the death, except that it’s going to be the demise of Rauner, Labor, and the State of Illinois as a functioning government.
- princess buttercup - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:56 pm:
So….prosperous americans think $56k is to much salary for an employee workforce that mostly consists of college graduates, or those even with masters degrees or doctorates? What planet do they live on?
- Mouthy - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
The very rich against the middle class…
- Triple fat - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
Don’t worry Honeybear. I’m sure their study is flawed. For one thing, who is choosing the jobs and deciding that they are comparable? Not a fair arbitrator - I am sure! Just consider the source and swat them away like the x!%# eating flies that they are.
- olddog - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
This is simply untrue, and it is obviously designed to stir up animosity in the community. Looks like the messaging and timing are orchestrated with the governor’s office, too.
- Jibba - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
In an issue of Governing magazine a couple of years ago, this issue was examined. It seems that lower-skiill workers in public service do earn more than their private sector counterparts (think of people picking up garbage in state parks, not to denigrate any working person). However, for skilled jobs requiring degrees, compensation is lower for public employees, getting more out of balance in accordance with the level of skills needed. So, I suspect that any analysis by AFP ignores the more complicated reality by very carefully picking “comparable” employees. Want to bring on a conversation about appropriate compensation levels? I’d welcome it, personally!
- Keyrock - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
AFP supports the ALEC Agenda. What a surprise!
- Seriously - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
They forget to mention it takes the of foljs majority 15-20 years or more to make that much if they were not politically connected..merit pay meant political donors and hacks automatically received 15-25% raises while the ones actually working merely received step raises.
- RNUG - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:08 pm:
If you concede that state wages are too high, it is partially self-inflicted by the state. Quite a number of years back, the State started revising the requirements for a lot of the job descriptions. The goal was to make the workforce more professional. A lot of the jobs ended up requiring college degrees. Heck, when I reviewed the revised descriptions, I didn’t even qualify to be hired for my own job.
Raise the entry bar and you have to pay for it.
- ILPundit - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:10 pm:
God forbid anyone be allowed to make a living wage.
- Xavier Woods - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:12 pm:
Gee, I wish I could sit there and trash unions and middle class workers from the comforts of Naperville too! /snark
- Joe M - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
Billionaire Koch brothers, meet wealthy Bruce Rauner, who bought the Illinois governorship, and is in there fighting for the rights of the 1%ers like you. Oh, you guys already know each other.
- Name Withheld - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
Jibba @3:01PM
The Center for State and Local Government Excellence did a study back in 2011 that found, among other things:
1) State and local workers have a wage penalty of 9.5 percent.
2) Pension contributions and retiree health insurance help close the gap.
3) Total compensation for public sector workers is about 4 percent less than that in the private sector.
http://slge.org/publications/comparing-compensation-state-local-versus-private-sector-workers
- Honeybear - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
RNUG- Of the five people (used to be 8 but we lost 3 who left state employment) in my room, 4 have masters degrees. 1 MPA, 1 M.Counseling, 1 MSW, 1 MA.RS (that’s me Master of Arts in Religious Studies, a mix of pastoral care and theology) For my spouse, they have not yet found someone to replace the previous position. After 2 CMS rounds they still can’t find a comparably qualified person.
- There is power in a union... - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:18 pm:
I don’t make anywhere near 56k. And also I’m tier 2.
AFP can bite me…
- Dirty Red - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:21 pm:
“Wildly out of touch.” The Kochs know nothing about that. /snark
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
=== 1%ers===
Bruce Rauner is NOT a 1%er. Bruce Rauner isn’t even a 0.01%er.
Bruce Rauner IS… a “1.4%er”
The 1.4% drivel Rauner is holding Illinois hostage for, including decimating unions.
Rauner is a 1.4%er.
So are Raunerites.
Vote Rauner in the GA? You’re a 1.4%er.
That’s who they are now. All of them by Rauner’s own definition.
A “1%” is this Governor… A 1.4%er are the Raunerites.
- Dray - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
24 yr state employee, bachelor’s degree, 55k a year.
I’m Merit Comp. Haven’t had an evaluation or a raise in over 6 years. My retirement might…might be 24k a year. This entire sham makes me sick and angry. Not surprised by Durkin’s response. Money is God. I back Labor, and the majority of working men and women in this godforsaken state should also. They’re coming for you next…
- Just saying... - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
WOW…another Rauner paid and bought for group (he’s a large donor) trying to be relevant. Not working boys. IPI - AFP - NPR, Proft, Uihlein, ETC…The Colorado project might have worked in Wisconsin it’s not going to work here! Will Rauner ever have the courage to own up for his failures or will he and his friends just buy people to deflect blame onto others???
- Anon - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:30 pm:
When the state is deeply in the red, a union demanding INCREASES in wages and benefits IS out of touch. It doesn’t take billionaires or advocacy groups to figure that out.
- sal-says - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:34 pm:
“wildly out of touch” says the “wildly out of touch” stars Americans for Prosperity.
Yup, expected; no surprise.
- NixonHead - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
Perhaps the unfortunate reality hasn’t set in for labor yet. The State is going broke, despite having at the least; a tax rate system comparable to many other states. Program are being cut out of necessity, upgrades delayed, road construction spared until future years, etc. It’s just not logical for the State to be in the red and somehow skip over one of its largest (if not THE largest) areas of expense: salaries and benefits for employees. I think it’s getting to the point now where it’s a math problem, not a philosophical issue. Even dem leaders realize that cuts, mathematically, must happen.
- RNUG - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:44 pm:
Let’s not lose sight of the job of the union in labor negoiations. It is to represent their members and get the most they can get. That’s what the union should be doing.
It is NOT the unions job to solve the State’s fisacl problems. That is the job of the GA and Gov.
Now that’s not to say the unions can’t offer to help, but that would be partially contrary to their stated purpose for existing. It’s also not to say the Gov and his crew shouldn’t be tough negotiators; that’s part of their job.
But each party has a role to play, and neither should be attacked for actually doing their job. Now if a party is demonstratively not doing their job … They deserve to be called on it.
- GetOverIt - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
OW - “[Workers] need lower wages” That’s the mantra…that’s the ballgame…spot on.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
“- RNUG - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:08 pm:”
I would hire you for any job that you want if I had that authority.
I wish there were more RNUG’s in this world.
- Quest - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
So what’s the purpose of the labor relations board. Do they just say yes/no to an impasse? Or do they have to approve the last best final offer?
- Georg Sande - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
AFP is absolutely correct … spot on.
- Joe M - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
==When the state is deeply in the red, a union demanding INCREASES in wages and benefits IS out of touch.==
Our State is deeply in the red because we kept a 3% tax rate for 20 years, instead of coming up with a rate that would have allowed us to pay the employer’s pension contributions and payouts. Our current 3.75% rate isn’t going to pay the bills either.
Basically you are saying no state employees should get a raise, so that we can keep the the 4th lowest income tax rate, out of the 43 states that have a state income tax.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
“- Georg Sande - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
AFP is absolutely correct …”
Time for you to get a 90% pay cut, 700% increase in health care cost and 90% increase in work hours.
- kimocat - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 4:07 pm:
Gee whiz George sande, do you really believe that AFP’s statistics regarding the wages of state employees are correct, or would you just like them to be? Do you really think that a workforce with vastly greater numbers of college graduates and advanced degrees should be paid as if they worked at Walmart or Starbucks? Do you really think that Illinois is going to be able to attract top quality engineers and IT professionals by slashing their pay and benefits and demonizing them in public? I suspect you don’t really believe any of these things, but they must just “feel good” to you. Oh and BTW, as a “retired non-union gal” I left the state years back and went to work for the private sector doing about the same thing I did in government. Guess what? I made more money than in Illinois. Sheesh.
- X-prof - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 4:14 pm:
“Rainier’s push for sensible changes and more modest pay increases are necessary and the right thing to do in the interest of taxpayers.”
Hmm. Wage freeze for four years … as pay increases go, that brings a whole new meaning to modest.
- Pressman - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 4:16 pm:
Wisconsin and Indiana have both reformed collective bargaining rules for government employees over the last 10 years or so and it has helped state and municipal government in both places to control labor costs and reduce the need public sector workforce layoffs. Illinois should look to those places for some answers.
- Georg Sande - Friday, Jan 15, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
=”Time for you to get a 90% pay cut, 700% increase in health care cost and 90% increase in work hours.”===
#LaborMath