Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Legislature continues movement to suspend state employee merit raises

Faced with a $1.3 billion drop in state revenue, members of the House Appropriations Committee combed the budget Tuesday to find money for programs on the chopping block.

State Rep. John Schroder, R-Covington, proposed an amendment to freeze merit increases. He said the move would boost the state’s general fund by $13.4 million.

Overall, the amendment would affect $34 million in raises that state agencies wanted to give in the upcoming fiscal year, Schroder said.

Of that amount only $13.4 million would revert to the general fund. Agencies would keep the rest of the money — because it comes from sources such as self-generated revenue and not general fund dollars — but would not be able to use it for raises, he said.

10 comments:

concerned said...

With the rising costs of essentials such as food, utilities, health insurance, I believe we should still be able to receive a merit on the basis of our work performance. Also with the propsal to cut employees most of our work loads will double.

Depressed1 said...

With hurricane season and swine flu approaching, the same public health employees affected by this legislation will be FORCED to man special needs shelters and fema PODS. We have been doing "more with less" since 2000, and now have 1/2 the employees we did before that year. I foresee a mass-exodus of many seasoned employees. No merits, no DROP, no civil service protection in times of layoff, and only 2 cost of living raises in 30 yr. So sad!

Depressed1 said...

I personally have heard many employees say they will not be here long. Who will run hurricane shelters and PODS, in a
time of crisis? I wonder if the legislators will be on the frontlines?

Depressed1 said...

Will these state legislators man hurricane shelters and fema PODS, during a time of crisis? There surely won't be enough public health nurses!

Anonymous said...

Excellent comments have been made on this issue. I think its imperative for all state employees to contact their individual state senators and representatives and express their concerns on the movement to suspend merit raises and the DROP program.

Tracan23 said...

If many of the protections that we enjoy today are removed with the many changes being proposed, will we, the state employees, be allowed the ability to strike? I think that is one of the abilities that we give up to have a stable workplace. If we are going to have our PPRs done by unclassified employees and now have to worry about if that person likes someone else for my job, who is speaking up for the worker?

Tracan23 said...

If many of the protections that we enjoy today are removed with the many changes being proposed, will we, the state employees, be allowed the ability to strike? I think that is one of the abilities that we give up to have a stable workplace. If we are going to have our PPRs done by unclassified employees and now have to worry about if that person likes someone else for my job, who is speaking up for the workers?

concerned" said...

I beleive that is all scare tactics to try and take advantage of state classified employees. I beleive that this is so they can make more money for the state to make themselves look good when it comes time for elections. I will be looking at all sentors and house representitives to see how they vote. The ones that vote against us i will not vote for in the elections. This includes the governor. If we give up our raises they should give up something also. This is how i think.

concerned" said...

I was just told today in our office that will will not have a merit raise this Fiscal Years July 1 through June 30 2010. Why do they keeping buying all this fancy office furniture when they do not need it. This is unnessicary spending. If their was not so much spending on things that is not needed when they could go where stuff is stored and find furniture there. Also these people that go on these business trips that is paid for by the state afair, auto rental, meals, hotels, car mileage and many other things also. If there was not so much spending there would be money for raises and to hire more employees instead of the threat to lay off or cut our hours

Tracan23 said...

http://blog.nola.com/graphics/2009/02/search_for_state_employee_sala.html

I was personally embarrassed to see how much my boss, her boss and the ones on up the line in my departmant make each year. I won't say I am a rocket scientist but I do work my big behind off and try to do the best job I can. I would love to make some of the salaries I see listed here. Perhaps if these were trimmed down abit there would be more to go around?