Should MN state government workers go on strike?

[Deja Q]

Just curious...

[Brucey]

1. Probably, but would never be effective because the public has been

brainwashed against unions and strikers. No win situation.

[Deja Q]

2. and being government employees

With all those benefits...

I'm not a state employee, but I know county employees, especially the married ones, have to pay a shitload of money for medical benefits.

While Pawlenty is cutting services and freezing wages and such, I wonder if he himself and his staff are making cutbacks for themselves. I doubt it, somehow... My employer's bosses just got delicious raises for the next 2 years while offering employees a freeze in pay and a noticeable cut in medical benefits. :-(

[LincolnMcGrath]

4. Wrong!

Not a no winner.
I agree with you about the public smear campaign of the last 30 years or so though.

"The eight-year contract includes raises of between 3 percent and 5 percent, plus large pension increases, job security and other benefits for 4,000 workers."


http://www.boston.com/dailynews/262/region/Yale_unions_approve_contract_r:.shtml

[Deja Q]

6. Wrong!

Contracts are for 2 years, from my angle the security is GONE, not much in the way of pension, benefits crumbling, and NO OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROMOTION OR ADVANCE. When you're government, you're stuck in your position with generally no way up.

Don't think that ALL government workers are a lucky bunch of lazy stiffs.

Geez, that link is for a University - doesn't sound like government to me. May as well compare apples to oranges and Republicans to Green Party folk...

Also, what conditions did those union workers live under BEFORE this holy grail of a contract get approved?

[zekeson]

3. Yes, they have been pushed around for years

taken cuts on top of cuts. Used to be that being a State employee meant that you were giving up some pay, but had security and bennies. THe security is gone and he bennies suck. You devote 20-30 years to work you believe in and all you get is shit because someone once drove past someone who was drinking coffe and leaning agaisnt a shovel.

I am county and my bennies are going to eat me alive next contract and if the state can't slow the bleeding by example we are going to hemmorage to death in negotiations next year.

[Deja Q]

5. County here, too

Which makes the situation that much more angering, how management won't take equal share in the budget crisis. Dunno if that is going on in your county, but it is in mine. :-( I know people (not me, yet) who WILL go to the media - oh, there's some really juicy stuff that would really anger the public if they knew...

There've been some insults coming from the public which I hear as I pass by in corridors. I won't describe the general characteristics o those who do even though they're generally repukes... I've had to bite my tongue on a few occasions as well. Freedom of speech never applies to those who work for government. :eyes: Just sit there and take the abuse by the sheer ignorant... :-(

And you're not alone; the "bennies" (or lack of) is going to kill me too if the county's "offerings" go through and nobody decides to strike. :-( At least the bankruptcy "reform" hasn't been passed yet, thank God.