Hebron Dollars & Sense

Every day, there is another example of unions being unwilling to face reality, and unwilling to face some of the cuts that those who work in private industry have been dealing with for the past couple of years. The benefits, pensions, and salaries of workers at the state level are generous. Some of the pensions, in fact, are downright nauseating. All coming out of taxpayers' pockets. What will it take to make a change? The teachers' union in Hebron, the teachers' union in Franklin, the CT state employees' union--all showing a complete disregard for the plight of their neighbors. Here's the latest, for those who don't get the JI:

Unions balk at governor’s concessions request
By Susan Haigh
Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 10:36 AM EDT
HARTFORD — Leaders of unionized state employees are calling Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s request for additional concessions “scapegoating” and a show of disrespect.

A letter from the State Employees Bargaining Coalition to Rell accuses the governor, a Republican who’s not seeking re-election, of “pandering to partisan politics” of the gubernatorial campaign by proposing givebacks from the 45,000 unionized workers.

The letter calls the move “cynical scapegoating which masquerades for leadership” and describes the proposal for more concessions a show of “cynical disrespect.”

Many of the Republican candidates for governor have focused on state employee wages and benefits as key areas that should be targeted for cuts.

SEBAC officials are upset with a March 18 letter from Rell’s budget director, Robert Genuario, which lists additional givebacks the state is seeking. It comes nearly a year after the administration reached an approximately $700 million deal with the unions that included no layoffs for most unionized workers.

The requests, according to a list titled “confidential document concerning collective bargaining strategy,” include allowing layoffs if the General Assembly agrees to merge or close state agencies or programs, imposing additional furlough days, limiting the accumulation of vacation and sick time, changing how state pensions are calculated, increasing employee contributions for health insurance coverage, and increasing copays for prescription drugs and visits to doctors and hospitals.

In his letter to SEBAC’s chief negotiator, Dan Livingston, Genuario said Connecticut continues to experience substantial budgetary problems. The situation, he said, has worsened since last year’s talks.

The state is in the midst of a two-year $37.6 billion budget that’s projected to be more $1 billion in deficit.

Genuario said Tuesday he’s “disappointed with the tone” of SEBAC’s response to the proposed concessions but added, “I think it’s important that we get beyond that.”

Genuario said he hopes negotiations will resume soon. The two sides have met once during this legislative session.

Many of his proposed changes target a 20-year pension and health care agreement that former Gov. John G. Rowland reached with SEBAC, which is an umbrella organization for the state employee unions. For example, Genuario’s proposals include a 10 percent increase in health care contributions from active employees, effective July 1, 2010.

Another 10 percent increase would take effect on July 1, 2011. Genuario also proposed premium increases for state retirees.

He acknowledged the proposed givebacks are “very substantial.”

“It’s not a list of proposals that was intended to do anything but address our problems, not only in this biennium, but our well-publicized problems in the out-years,” Genuario said.

While SEBAC accuses the Rell administration of dismissing cost-savings ideas suggested by state employees, Genuario said he’s willing to work with them on some of the proposals, but most wouldn’t generate significant savings.

SEBAC also criticized Rell for focusing on spending cuts and not asking “the Wall Street bankers and other millionaires … to pay their fair share.”

“We will not join you, Governor Rell, in leading Connecticut on a mad race to the bottom, a race that benefits only the very privileged few,” SEBAC letter said.

VERY NICE TAXPAYER & VERY TRUE

Forgot To add To Yesterday's Thought In Another Thread & Taxpayer Just Reminded Me

Educational & Institutional ARROGANCE Towards The Electorate Is Rampant With Ellie,Doobie & The HBOE Minus 2

As To The Teacher Unions, You folks Are NO DIFFERENT Than The Re$t Of The world/Economy & You seem To think You Are

People Been Laid off, Hours & Pay reduced( Yep, im Talking about Me) Just To Keep My Job & A Roof Over Our Heads & Sum Form Of Health Ins( Yep i'm Old) & You Unions want MORE????

Rboe& Hboe It's $imple, Get Conce$$ion$ From Both Or REALLY Lay Them Off, (Not Like You Guys USUALLY Hide It)

Right there with you, No Politics--I've had a 10 percent pay cut hanging over my head for 6 months, and I make poverty-level pay to begin with. My 401K has been eliminated, my medical plan contributions raised, and I have NO dental coverage. I was recently asked to take on more work for the same amount of pay. The same amount of POVERTY-LEVEL pay. And I probably have more education than some of our teachers, and many of the people who work for the state. I have been looking for a higher-paying job for over 6 months now, but we all know how tough the market is right now. People who say "Just go out and get a better job" have never tried to find work in a market that is the worst since the Depression. And I am relatively young, well-educated, and have exemplary references, a great credit rating, and no history of incarceration. What must it be like for someone who is nearing retirement, or who has inadequate education? Or who, God forbid, has ever been in jail? This is reality right now, for me and for many, many others. To me, it feels like the unions are spitting in my face when they refuse to make concessions despite their job security, their primo benefits, and their pay levels that are two, three, and four times higher than what I am making. "You can't pay for this repair to your house? Oh well, them's the breaks. Here's a nice increase in your property tax bill. Deal with it." Where is the empathy? Where is the spirit of community? The state workers' union cited the millionaires living in CT as one of their reasons for refusing to make concessions. They want to see them taxed higher. I totally agree, and will be voting for a governor who is likely to do this. But what kind of an attitude is this? If someone doesn't start to do the right thing, how will things ever get better?

Nearing Retirement you say Eh?

Don't I wish

One Is Close, But with All considerations & the Economy Az It iz, Not Gonna Happen soon Enough

Need The Health Bennys More than Anything, 80/20 Medical & Dental is $1500 yr, that's it, But better Than NADA Right?



Will the Unions As a whole Work With the Municipality's/Towns To Keep their People in Well Paying Jobs At le$$ Pay & Benny's To Stay EMPLOYED Or Just Be Self Serving & Greedy & ask for More??

Hey REA & HEA

Think about all Of The Shaws Workers Getting whacked This week For GOOD & You tell Me How You Feel Asking For More When People Have le$$

I HOPE YOU ALL CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT

NOT!!!!

Will the Unions As a whole Work With the Municipality's/Towns To Keep their People in Well Paying Jobs At le$$ Pay & Benny's To Stay EMPLOYED Or Just Be Self Serving & Greedy & ask for More??

Unfortunately, media reports lately suggest that the unions in CT are going for the latter. Also unfortunate, I think in Hebron they are banking on the fact that parents won't allow the cutting of programs and/or larger class sizes. So they feel they can have their cake and eat it too. So far, their wager is paying off. Let's hope things change soon.

Taxpayer wrote:



Sadly You are Correct Taxpayer

They only way things will change If Their Membership Is Directly affected by LAYOFFS

They Will Only listen If They are Hit Like the rest of Us In 1 form Or another.

Reality SUCKS & They think they Live above it all, But they don't

Boe's Must show Some Cajones & Hold their Feet To The Fire For REAL & SUBSTAN$IAL CONCESSIONS Or a Involuntary reduction In Their Membership Should Be implemented

We Get By on Le$$

WHY CAN'T THEY????