Joe-
I guess today begins the new era for the state employees in Maryland.
Beginning today, all state employees covered by the bargaining units will have to pay 'something' to the union-- they'll continue to pay their regular dues if they're members, and if they're not.. they'll pay anyway.
There will be a deduction from their paycheck for what's being called their 'Fair Share'-- money paid to the union to compensate the union for negotiating the pay and benefits they receive.
And they have no choice-- they pay either dues or the fee, whether they wanted representation or not.
And the deal gets even sweeter-- the employee contribution to the retirement fund has been raised from 5% to 7%.
But most employees don't know that much of that extra 2% is NOT going to the retirement fund (which is already way under-funded).The money is going to the General Fund to help balance the budget.
So the pension fund will remain perilously under-funded while O'Malley and his buddies divert the increase to pay for their pet projects.
I wonder how many of those smiling, sign-waving AFSCME union members we will see at O'Malley's next big event?
You'd think they would learn eventually.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
20 comments:
What do you expect... We have nothing but a bunch of monkeys running our govt and even more so living in the surrounding area... Most people these days are drop outs... or slacker s want me to work harder so you don't have to... I say screw u... get your own money I worked for this... more than you know...
Public unions are a conflict of interest and should be banned. Lets put it up for a vote and let the tax payers decide!
De-certify!
There should be a class action suit to stop this, MD is supposed to be a "right to work" state. Many state employees are not union members and are very angry about this illegal and immoral shakedown by the unions and the Owe'Malley Admin.
There is no benefit provided by the unions.
Another reason for employees to steal from their employer.
Have you noticed how boldly they did this?
Try to do anything about it-- you can't.
And they know that. They're corrupt to the core.
This is O'Malley/Dems way of buying the support of the unions.. hand them a big piece of your paycheck.
Keep voting Democrat.. this is what you voted for.
bout time all those blood sucking parasites take one on the chin!
The rest of us have been for some time!
8:50 PM
WTF are you talking about?
Unions are good only in theory.
Application of such always leads to corruption, job loss and criminality.
All the while memebers pay them for it. lol.
Just another Maryland Dumber-cratic PAC! As a state employee, with paying the increased pension deduction and the mandatory union fee, I will bring home about $17.00 less a check then I did with furloughs. How exactly did the union negotiations help me?
I am one of those proud AFSME members with a "smiling face" who is well informed and involved and marched in Annapolis many times to fight for the rights of my fellow state employees (for union members and non-members). All state employees (except those not in the bargaining unit) received a ballot and over 90% voted yes for the contract which includes Fair Share and includes the votes of many non-members. AFSCME negotiated a great contract at the bargaining table. State employees who are not union members have been riding the backs of AFSCME members way too long. Fair share was implemented to help pay the cost of the legal fees that every state employee benefits from. Why should the AFSCME members pay dues and do all the work at the bargaining table, in Annapolis, and at the local meetings, then have other fellow state employees reap the benefits? It is only fair the non-members pay the fee to AFSCME. If you join the union you will then receive several benefits rather than just being a fee payer. The union helps employees to have safe work places and working conditions and stops workplace bullying which goes on by many power hungry, controlling supervisors in their workplace. The average person would be suprised just how much some supervisers can and do get away with in the workplace by bulling good employees who do their job because of their own ego, agenda, low self esteem, jealousy, or doing their boss's dirty work for them. Or they retaliate against those who stand up for what is right or those who do not participate in their wrong-doing. You can thank AFSCME for the no furloughs and the $750 bonus we will get to make up for some of the furloughs. And to the person who said this is all the more reason to steal from your workplace, that is assinine and criminal. Stealing is not right under any circumstance and besides, it is not the employer making the fair share rule anyway you moran, it's the legislatures who implemented this into law at the request of AFSCME. You have no idea where many state employees would be if not for the AFSCME union. Many of you need to do your homework before making uninformed or unintelligent comments on here.
Many of you need to do your homework before making uninformed or unintelligent comments on here.
July 2, 2011 12:22 AM
Maybe so but the unions can't stop companies from closing, and in some cases expedite it. And paying all those dues and fees and whatever didn't stop them from stopping benefits to long time union employees.
Go unions! Stand strong!
Unions and their leaders are corrupt to the core. Think about it! Dresser years ago went on strike KNOWING the company was on very poor ground and a building in Texas could swallow them up in a heartbeat. Did it anyway. What did the union do for them? Some of the highest paid jobs in town....are gone! And, many of them struggle today to make ends meet. There are so many companies! Look at the union mentality of the Poultry industry that had very poor workers and a corrupt union, still is, local 27. Do you realize how many poultry companies used to be on the eastern shore and no longer exist? Many jobs are lost and will never return. Federal and State and County workers' unions are absolutely corrupt. The union mentality of entitlement is worse than the stereotyped welfare recipient! Just that they hide behind "working for a living" as a shield to their lazy, do the minimum and argue about everything attitude. Unions suck!
2:13 AM
lmao yup they been doing real good lately haven't they?
There's something to be said about living in the free state.Your free to do as you choose as long as you agree to line the pockets of the politico. Right to work state....No.Free state....No. What a farce.
Now you see why AFSCME donated $78 million to the democrats!! Can't get them to join, just bribe the democrats.
2:13 Thank you!!
3:26 as a proud and hard working AFSCME member, I take offense to your comment that all unions including those who represent state employees are corrupt. First of all the union is ALL of the people who are members, not just the paid employees of the union. If more people join the union then we will have strength in numbers to send a clear message to Annapolis that we do not like them balancing the budget on the backs of state employees. We will also have strength in numbers to make a difference in our workplaces and encourage employees to stand up for what is right in their workplace. Many staff are afraid to speak up for themselves and either bow down to the corrupt ones in management, become just like them (if you can't beat them, join them mentality), or good employees leave the organization. There are bad apple bullies in every workplace and it is usually the hard working people they go after while the slackers who do not get their jobs or cause problems in the workplace are continued to be allowed to do so. Employees should not have to put up with harassment for something personal and something they did not do wrong. I can't believe you would compare an AFSCME worker to a welfare recipient. That is dumb because we pay dues and we are not lazy! We go to Annapolis to meet with the legislators, rally in front of the state house, sit down at the bargaining table to negotiate a fair contract (which ALL state employees can benefit from except those not in the bargaining unit), attend management committee meetings in the workplace to try and make things better for all the staff who have brought concerns to our awareness so that we can work things out and make a better working atmosphere for all. Unions are not the reason companies go out of business. It is the economy or poor management that usually is responsible for that.
As an EX -AFSCME Union member, 20 years, that served on Local Chapter Boards and Collective Bargaining from Start in 1994 til 2004 and attended several meetings in Baltimore with the Agency Secretary, I can personally attest to their coruption. AFSCME wanted and died for Collective Bargaining and understood who ever won the vote was to represent all MD State Workers whether they were Union members or not if they had a problem concerning anything that was covered by CB. They have been whining since 1996 to get this added money to line their pockets.
What have they done for the State Worker? Now there are furlough days, 2% pay reduction, higher medical insurance cost, higher retirement contribution, no pay increases which added salary reduction over the 2%, refused to buck Administrations on promotions unless they had no choice so they stayed on Administrytions good side, just to name a few. THE INCREASED RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION NOT GOING TO THEIR RETIREMENT means they are being taxed underhandedly and unfairly since they are being targeted to pay this and all tax payers are not required to pay this added sum that is going into the General Fund.
All of you AFSCME members are doing Union talking points and not talking knowledgeable facts.
Will discuss anytime on AFSCME / Union corruption.
Hey, 12:22, I received a ballot regarding the proposed budget issues as you said. I saw all of the things they wanted to try getting us, but there was NO MENTION of this "Fair Share" stuff. Yes, I still have the paperwork. It isn't there. Maybe I got the ONLY envelope that didn't include that page but you never know. However, I VOTED NO. So why do I have to pay? If that is how they are going to do things, let me go to Annapolis on my own and negotiate my own contract. Maybe I will be overpaid, maybe underpaid, but I did it on my own. Can't blame anyone else. If I disagree with the service I should not have to pay. Especially if I said no from the beginning.
9:32 AM meet 10:25 AM.
I think 1025 is more believable.
Whenever I hear union and hard working in the same sentence, I have to chuckle.
I expect you to disagree so you don't have to bother.
Economy and management do play a role in a companies' success or failure, but when a company is going through tough times and tries to re-negotiate and the union will not bend, companies go under. Or re-locate.
Some have to learn the hard way.
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