State Employee Raises Without Votes

by: Red Baron Friday, November 21st, 2008

Did you know that pay raises that are arbitrated for state employees are passed by the legislature without a single vote being taken, and without your legislator being required to go on the record in favor of the pay raises or against?

That’s right.  Any contract issued by an arbitrator is automatically passed by the legislature unless a rejection is issued within a 30-day time frame.

House Republicans will be pushing to eliminate this provision this year in an effort to control spending as Connecticut faces a $391 million deficit this year.

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10 Responses to “State Employee Raises Without Votes”

Bob Said:  Vote: Add rating 2  Subtract rating 1  

Another reason why we have a deficit.

Comment made on November 25th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
mike jacob Said:  Vote: Add rating 6  Subtract rating 0  

in the last 20 years we have been lied to and cheated with the same syste. Weicker stole 3 years of an arbitrated contract from state employees on the guise of a 1 year give back and rowland cheated the unions with his arm turning of another arbitration. Today there is 2/3rds democrats in the senate and most of them were supported and financed byunion members.This year there will be a no vote on the correction officer arbitration, but it is only fair with what you did to us under Weicker and Inmate/felon rowland

Comment made on December 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Gary Gile Said:  Vote: Add rating 4  Subtract rating 0  

Anything done in our state legislature must have a voting record and name attached to the action. To allow anything to pass without being able to track who was for and who was against the measure does not allow the citizens the opportunity to participate in the governing process.

I realize this participation is stretched a bit. But citizens should vote for the candidate of choice based on what they actually do while in office. We need to know what they vote yes on, what they vote no on and what they don’t vote on.

Comment made on December 12th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Al Esposito Said:  Vote: Add rating 2  Subtract rating 2  

What people in general fail to realize is the Unions sit down with the State to arbitrate an award. It isn’t like these monies are just given to State employees recklessly. Fair awards are decided amongst both parties with full understanding of what is fair and equitable during financial times both current and forcasted. State workers bleed red like private sector people. We filled out a job application like any other job, the benefits differ as with an job you take, better or worse. Don’t blame working people for this problem.

Comment made on December 30th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Bill Said:  Vote: Add rating 2  Subtract rating 4  

This is one of the best positions the state can take. They need to regain some control over spending and their employees. Today I seen 22 state autos. Who drives all these cars? We know who is paying and enough is enough. No wonder all my friends have moved out. Remember when government employees were happy with the safe job. Now they will drain the tax payers dry and always justify more taxes…

Comment made on December 31st, 2008 at 4:18 am
Wolfman Said:  Vote: Add rating 2  Subtract rating 4  

Unions are killing this country. They have too much influence in our politics and our companies.
The taxpayers end up paying for the bloat of state and city contracts. Take a small city like winsted where these union contracts are causing the citizens to suffer with increases on the fiscal buget every year. For 1 example, winsted has an overpaid meter maid who doesn’t issue enough parking tickets to come close to validating that position.

Comment made on January 5th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Jacqueline Said:  Vote: Add rating 3  Subtract rating 3  

No Raises!
Raises should be based on performance anyway. Why should anyone “expect” a raise in pay just because they have a State job? During the last 14 months I have made over a dozen calls to various State agencies and have received mostly above average assistance. There were three instances where the individuals should have been removed from their positions because of their language, inappropriate comments and totally worthless help. Those three people are why automatic raises cannot be implemented.

Comment made on January 8th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Duce Said:  Vote: Add rating 1  Subtract rating 4  

Stop the madness!
Eliminate this incestuous process called arbitration. State employees determining what’s fair for other state employees. No voice by the citizens of Connecticut on the matter. Same issue with teacher salaries. Stop automatic pay increases because your warm body is present.

Comment made on January 13th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Jess Said:  Vote: Add rating 3  Subtract rating 0  

Union workers do not make huge amounts of money, but managers do, and they get outrageous benefits, and the state is very top-heavy. Why don’t you check this out and stop picking on hard-working, middle-class union folks. Some of the unions did NOT get raises in the last crisis and won’t get them this time either. SOME managers gave up ONE day unpaid while union workers are facing frozen wages and layoffs. Ask for more from the people who get paid the BIG bucks and leave the union workers alone for a change.

Comment made on February 9th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Jacqueline Said:  Vote: Add rating 1  Subtract rating 2  

Enough is Enough! No more automatic raises. No more bonuses. No more fancy getaway trips. No more limos. No more perks - period.

Comment made on March 13th, 2009 at 12:55 am
 

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