State Employee Pay Raise Update

March 18, 2010

Another vote to reject the negotiated state employee 3% pay raise failed on March 17th. The story concerning this vote is in the article below. Click Read More to send your legislators a letter to help them make the right decision. Also remember to thank those Legislators who voted with you and against the pay rejection.
910 Letters Sent to Legislators So Far!

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Article About Public Funds and Outsourcing

An article from the Michigan Messenger discussing the closing of the Hugo Boss plant in Ohio. The workers there are represented by Workers United (a part of SEIU) and the private equity fund that is pulling the strings on the closure has several public institutions, including the University of Michigan, as investors.

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Senate Rejects Killing 3% Pay Hike Again

As reported by MIRS: The Senate took a second crack on March 17th, but again rejected a resolution nixing a 3-percent pay increase for unionized state employees as a way to plug a leaking state budget.

Please keep those letters and calls to your Legislators going. This issue is not dead.

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Progress Michigan Press Release on Doug Rothwell

Citizens group Progress Michigan today called on Doug Rothwell, head of the CEO group pushing to balance the budget on the backs of state workers, to reveal if he gets any taxpayer-funded pension, health care and retirement as a former state worker himself. In 2001-2002, Rothwell was a state employee paid $262,000, more than his then-boss Gov. John Engler. In today’s money, Rothwell’s salary as a state worker would have been $318,000.

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State Employee Comments that Appeared in the Oakland Press

"As a state employee, but not an SEIU member, I appreciate Phil Thompson's insightful comments. I, too, believe in shared sacrifice and continue to be willing to do my part. I have experienced a wage freeze, had the contract I work under re-opened to address financial compensation because of the economic downturn and have also been laid off as a result of a reduction in workforce. I accept all that as my part in helping my state get back on the road to financial health.

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GOP Leader Bishop Responds to SEIU E-Board Member

Read the response one of our members received from Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop concerning the negotiated state employee wage increase and the state of the budget.

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Press Clips in Support of State Employee Pay

Here are several articles that have appeared in newspapers on March 17, 2010 that are in support of the state employee negotiated wage increase.

Oakland Press Pay Raise Article SEIU Local 517M Executive Vice President Phil Thompson Guest Opinion in the March 17, 2010 edition of the Oakland Press

Guest Opinion by State Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-Lansing) in support of the wage increase from the March 17, 2010 edition of the Lansing State Journal.

"Teabaggers" Urge State Employee Pay Rejection

Articles in the March 15th editions of the GONGWER and MIRS newsletters talk about the "Tea Party" movement and their advocation for the rejection of the state employee negotiated pay raise.

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Saginaw City Schools Ratify Contract

The Saginaw City Schools chapter ratified a three year agreement on February 25th after a long six month battle. The school district picked up the 12% health insurance increase and eliminated the members paying the first three months of health care insurance when they first enroll in the plan, something this group has been fighting to get for many years. The bargaining committee negotiated an attendance incentive, 1 added snow day, several non economic regarding position opportunities the members wanted and the lowest paid food service classification would receive a small increase. The rest of the membership agreed to a wage freeze. The Saginaw City Schools bargaining committee is chaired by Chapter President, Mark Clements and includes Rachael Burnell, Cheryl Merrill, Roberta Oldenburg, Carlene Lawson, Sam McGee and Cheryl Harrington. This was Mark's first time as chief spokesperson for the group.