Re Carl Strock March 26 column, “Senators tote water for trade unions”: I generally enjoy and agree with much of what Carl Strock writes, but his recent attack on unions strikes me as misguided. Mr. Strock is upset that bricklayers might make $26.29 per hour on the AMD project. I am not privy to the fi ne points of the bricklayers' contract, and, in fact, have never been a member of any union. But a little math suggests that someone making that hourly wage and working 40 hours a week for 50 weeks a year would gross $52,580. That is certainly a solid middle-class wage, but it’s hardly princely. It’s the sort of pay that might enable a family to bring up kids decently and maybe even take an occasional vacation (although perhaps not to anyplace as exotic as India). And since these bricklayers are located in upstate New York, it’s highly unlikely that the weather would even allow them a full year’s work. Yet Mr. Strock laments that there might not be competition “to see who can do the job cheaper.” Why have even well-meaning people accepted the idea that there’s something wrong with paying a worker a decent wage? Golly, Carl, maybe we should bring back child labor. That would increase competition.
The union workers in this state run circles around those in the private sector. We make less money and put up with the whining from the public.
You think government workers make so much more than private????? ROFLMAO. What planet are you on?
Open your eyes. A person with a doctorate degree in psychology makes a paltry, meager $63,000 if he/she goes to work for New York State !!!!!!!!! You'll get far more in private industry. The state has a severe problem hiring engineers because the pay is so low. Students graduating with engineering degrees hardly are going to flock to jobs making under $40,000 a year:
And so on. But remember, getting a job for the state doesn't mean sending your resume and your college transcript like private industry. After all that schooling you have to take and pass a test besides.
And let's see, let's look at the salary of the governor, what is it, $200,000 a year? He is the CEO of the state, compare his salary to his counterparts in private industry. Check out the head financial officer of NYS, the comptroller, do you think he makes more money as a government employee than do the financial rank and file in the private financial industry. What a laugh. The private industry counterparts probably make at least, at the very least, 10 times more than the head financial officer of the state, not to mention the multimillion dollar bonses that they get in private industry.
Look at the president. What is is salary? Find me ANYONE in private industry who has the huge responsbility as the CEO of government and gets paid less. What employee in private industry has the important decisions to make that can affect the whole world that can start or prevent a war and can make or break the world. His private industry counterparts are lavishing on their fat salaries, and finding ways to scam the average person as their discussions on the golf course
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Now, what was the pay for attorneys working for the state? go back and look at the test announcement. What is so lucrative about the salary? Are they really high paid?
For those who claim government employes are paid more than private, look again:
And when you see the salaries of judges (government employes) just remember, these are NOT first year employes. Judges will generally have had years and years or experience, and they make little compared to new attorneys out of school
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
mc....I see your point, but you can not compare private to public sector jobs. You failed to mention the life long benefits. The non-taxed state pension. The fact that this is all paid by 'us' the taxpayers. And if the state budget runs short, like this year, there either needs concessions made or all they have to do is raise our taxes. Clearly not a luxury in the private sector.
How can any private sector compete with public (government tax paid) jobs? Look at Glendale Nursing home as compared to any private nursing homes. The pay and benefits at Glendale surpass the private sector. And Glendale can do it cause 'we' are paying for it.
Funny...but I have many family and friends that are public employees and have been for 10,20,30 years. When they retire, they think that they will get a part time job in the private sector. Guess what? Not a one of them can make it in the private sector. Really! They say the work is too hard. Really...I am NOT making that up.
But clearly...what is killing NYS are the lucrative life time benefits and the no taxing of the pensions. There are more public (taxpaid) sector jobs in NYS than private sector. That is pathetic!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
My mother worked for the state and I'll tell you, she paid taxes on her pension. Only New york State didn't tax her pension, but her pension was quite meager. And thank goodness for my fathers lucrative health insurance from GE as a retiree. The state's plan did not cover nursing home at all, not a dime, a drastic reduction in coverage, but my mother had to pay the same premium. My dad, for no premium cost whatsoever, had an indemnity plan that covered the hospital deductible under medicare, AND paid the balance of nursing home after medicare. He was in a nursing home for two months and did not have to pay one penny out of pocket thanks to the wonderful insurance provided to him as a retiree from the private sector. As soon as one is on medicare as a retiree of the state, one continues to pay the same premium, but loses all coverage for nursing home. GE I'm sure would not provide coverage endlessly, but it did cover beyond medicare for the two months he was in a nursing home.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Not all private sector businesses can afford lucrative pensions. And health care usually is the responsibility of the employee once they retire. Not the businesses. I'm not talking about large corporations cause there really aren't too many, especially in NYS. We are primarily a state of small businesses OR public sector jobs. I believe that NYS is the biggest employer in the state. (sad )
But we as taxpayers are not just burdened with state employees, there are school, town and county employees as well. And they are all unionized! Why? Oh and let's not forget our paid politicians. It's just tooooooo much! Enough is enough!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
GE offered long term care insurance for nursing home/home care.....some folks took it and some did not....however, everyone can purchase their own for future use......or we can all sit back and 'wait and see'........
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Gov. Paterson sent a letter to all state employees, notifying us of the pending layoffs. The governor said that non-union employees are exempt from layoffs because no union contract prevents him from rescinding their 3 percent pay increase. I am outraged that PEF and CSEA are putting my job in peril during an economic crisis by refusing a reasonable compromise to give up our raises this year! The governor has stated that layoffs are unnecessary if the unions would compromise, but he is bound by union contract. It is the unions that are causing the unnecessary layoffs. As a state employee and union member, I demand that the unions compromise with the governor and stop the layoffs!
This is an example of greed at it's best instead of doing what's best for it's members. In hard economic times there must be a give and take mentality by both sides and when things get better the benefits can be given back to the union.
Well i am proud to admit that i am a union employee
Well good for you! And who pays your salary...the private or the public sector?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
GE offered long term care insurance for nursing home/home care.....some folks took it and some did not....however, everyone can purchase their own for future use......or we can all sit back and 'wait and see'........
Oh gosh, my father retired before the invention of the phrase "long term care insurance." My father retired a few decades ago. He doesn't have the coverage for doctors, but he has this plan that covers the medicare deductible for the hospital, I believe it would cover the hospital costs after medicare, but most people never stay in the hospital long enough beyond the number of days medicare pays in full. But the experiencewe have seen is when he went into physical rehab, which is still defined as nursing home, and that is what GE's health insurance - far better than the state has for it's retirees -- provided coverage for. And there is next to no premium.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
We live in a democracy. Why can’t our unions be more democratic? I am speaking as a retired elementary school teacher with over 24 years’ experience in our public schools, where I have witnessed various programs introduced in the classrooms that were against the better judgment of the majority of teachers. Nevertheless, these detrimental programs got “railroaded” through somehow. The unions have lost touch with their constituents. Before we spend a lot more money on eduction, maybe we should try a little common sense. This letter is in support of Judy Stockman’s March 13 letter, which I quote: “I am sure many CSEA members are willing to ‘share the burden’ since they are not only employees, but taxpayers as well. Given a choice between delaying your raise and seeing fellow employees lose their jobs, what would you choose? But no one asks the members.” My letter also supports Lois Parisella’s March 23 letter. Here is a quote from here letter: “But I would willingly accept a reduction in my benefits at this time because other people not as lucky as I are hurting. [But] I am sure the majority of state workers would consider this also, if given a voice. The unions are working for themselves.” Wake up, unions!
Oh gosh, my father retired before the invention of the phrase "long term care insurance." My father retired a few decades ago. He doesn't have the coverage for doctors, but he has this plan that covers the medicare deductible for the hospital, I believe it would cover the hospital costs after medicare, but most people never stay in the hospital long enough beyond the number of days medicare pays in full. But the experiencewe have seen is when he went into physical rehab, which is still defined as nursing home, and that is what GE's health insurance - far better than the state has for it's retirees -- provided coverage for. And there is next to no premium.
Rehab in a nursing home/rehab center is called 'stepdown therapy'......these are things set in order by none other than insurance lobbyists and the government(medicare)......GE long ago knew about the industrialization of a nation.....everyone gets a certain number of days of rehab,,,,the government has leveled the field with corporations and government services....... choice: pay government or union or pay yourself.........there is a wash going on right now......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Logged
)
