Thursday, December 23, 2010

Sen. Fred Risser: State employees deserve respect

I am deeply disappointed that the 2009 to 2010 state employee contracts were not approved by the state Senate.

Contrary to Gov.-elect Scott Walker’s propaganda, state employees are not the cause of the state’s current fiscal crisis. They are the backbone of Wisconsin government and should be treated fairly and with respect for the valuable service that they provide the state.

Our state employees are entitled to a fair agreement with the state on wages and benefits. The negotiated contracts which had been ratified by the unions and approved by the state’s Joint Committee on Employment Relations represented a compromise by both parties in these difficult economic times.

State employees made considerable concessions, in excess of $100 million, in agreeing to no general wage increases and increased contributions for health insurance and retirement benefits. Furloughs that amount to a 3.25 percent pay cut would also continue under the agreements.

State employees should be commended for their efforts rather than be criticized.

Sen. Fred Risser, Madison

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