Lingle cuts 3 days a month to all state employees

[David M]

Sorry Bob, but "a main reason" may or may not be "the reason" which allows for the fact that same reason may or may not have same effect on everyone.

Clearly, you feel a need to minimize any union influence, so go ahead and have the last word. I'm done.

David



Ninole Resident

[macuu222]

State employee unions filed suit in court yesterday to block state furloughs.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/articl...d+in+court

And with less than 2 weeks before scheduled furloughs...I think the governor has no choice now but to lay off about 10,000 state employees. Bad decision by the unions(unless your a senior state employee with many years of service...then it's a good decision because you get to keep your job with no salary cut)

Yes there were some gray areas with regard to the governor ordering furloughs (but she was just trying to save jobs)....but now there is no gray area for the governor to order mass layoffs! And she will(she's required by law to have a balanced budget)! And if you think Aloha Airlines 2000 layoffs caused a commotion... wait until this happens!

[JerryCarr]

Macuu222 is right. Layoffs are now the only option. Unfortunately, not only will people lose jobs, but most of them will be grunt level workers who actually get things done. Those with seniority and cushy administrative positions will most likely stay on the payroll. So sad. Maybe some of the public employees union members will finally question the motives of their leadership after this disaster.

[macuu222]

The unions will ultimately back down and take Lingle's furlough request. They don't want to loose millions of dollars in membership dues from 10,000 layed off employees! It's just a bunch of posturing by the union leaders to show their membership that they are doing everything possible to fight salary cuts.

[Chuysmom]

Are you guys State Workers? 'Cause I'm one of those "grunts" that you keep referring to. It's interesting to hear the views of people regarding Unions and State Workers. If you worked with the hardworking people I do, or if you got the (very small) salary that I do, or even paid (the very high) amount I do for insurance you would wonder why Governor Lingle is so hellbent on taking away even more than what we already don't have. She's losing her $16,000 a year (that was her raise last year). That means she will have only about $100,000.00 in her paycheck for the year. Boo-*!%*&@$-Hoo!

What you are not considering is that we are also being told we have to pay $200 more a month for insurance (which should bring mine & Tony's up to about 500.00 a month) as well as a 3 day a month furlough (which adds up to 7 weeks and 1 day). That's a whopping 21.2 percent of my paycheck they are going to cut all at once.

If we had no representation, we would be subject to every whim that Linda Lingle has.

These State Workers are your neighbors, friends, relatives, etc. Think about it. If you think your services are not fast now, just wait until the layoffs and furloughs roll in! And watch the foreclosures happen...and what about the lines for welfare? Oh wait! There's that Emergency Room waiting room, empty Food Basket, Mental Health Care providers, and on and on...

Nice to sit back and speculate about what YOU think should happen. Try on our shoes for a few minutes. Just a suggestion.[]

Carrie Rojo

http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com


"...So began the massacre of the Shaolin Temple and all sixty of the monks inside at the fists of the White Lotus. And so began the legend of Pai Mei's five-point-palm-exploding-heart technique." - Bill

[mdd7000]

chuysmom - What would be better? The possibility of losing your job or getting a pay cut?

In the private sector, health care costs have been going up dramatically over the last 10 years. I watched mine go from 100% paid by employer to nearly $150 per week for family coverage. Our companies' CEO even had the Socialist view that the more one makes, the more they "can afford" to pay for their own health care. What this meant was that low paid employees got free health care and starting at 50k you had to pay a portion, 75k a bigger portion, etc., and by 150k, you had to pay all of it. (I did not make 150k)

Private sector employees are at the mercy of their CEO and market forces. There is no guarantee of continued employment, guaranteed pensions and benefits with cost of living adjustments, etc.

[Chuysmom]

Macu'u, why should there be a choice? Do you realize how little a difference raising the GET would make to the average person living in Hawaii? I think a combination furlough day with raising the GET would be more fair. It would be nice if they thought outside the box a little instead of going for the throat?

Why should we have to be hit with this simply because we are State Workers? We were nervous about 1 day a month, but 3? Several people that will have to sell their homes (in this economy) just to get out from under if this happens.

Why shouldn't the whole state help? We ALL live here. State workers did not cause this horrible deficit.

I would be glad to help due to the economy...but there are limits. Did you know that many people think that State workers get insurance for FREE? That's so not the case. We pay big bucks. And what's next - Good ol' Linda is thinking about flipping the premiums so that the State pays 40 percent and workers pay 60 percent! If that happens, I will pay more in insurance and furlough than I actually take home. Soon I will pay the State just to go to work.




Carrie Rojo

http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com


"...So began the massacre of the Shaolin Temple and all sixty of the monks inside at the fists of the White Lotus. And so began the legend of Pai Mei's five-point-palm-exploding-heart technique." - Bill

[mdd7000]

Raising the GET (highest in the nation?) and/or raising the sales tax hurts those with the least amount of money the most. They are regressive taxes. Those already struggling do not need to pay additional taxes. Cutting spending and waste has to be the first choice for government, not the last choice.

There is not a single government agency (state or federal) that has no more room or ability to make itself more efficient.

[Chuysmom]

mdd7000 - perhaps you should do your research. 4% is an awesome GET for locals. Check the facts: http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/245.html

And just for your information as well, our office is down 2 critical positions and so the other Social Workers have double loads. They are now abolishing those positions. Who do you think suffers? Not just the overworked workers, but the children who are neglected and abused on a daily basis. How can YOU justify that?!

Okay - Pau. We could debate and speculate forever. It's exhausting to argue all the time. I know what this is doing to my life and the lives of my co-workers. But you will never know. I'm sure it will all work out. My fears of ending up pushing a shopping cart will never come true I suspect - LOL. We will just do without what we probably don't need anyway.[] Aloha.

Carrie Rojo

http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com


"...So began the massacre of the Shaolin Temple and all sixty of the monks inside at the fists of the White Lotus. And so began the legend of Pai Mei's five-point-palm-exploding-heart technique." - Bill

[mdd7000]

4% is an awesome GET for locals.

HUH? It's still a tax. Hawaii also taxes all services - most states don't do that. Hawaii also taxes the tourists whom the state relies upon, very heavily. Oh, wait, don't forget the income tax! Overall, Hawaii is one of the most heavily taxed states.